Han Shizu

Chapter 2190 Renzong Chapter 7 New bureaucrats, the anti-Fan group
An exquisite and gorgeous official carriage drove up the long street and stopped in front of the Wang family's mansion. Under the nervous and diligent service of a group of servants, an old man with a thin but dignified appearance got out of the car, gently stroked the purple robe on his body, and walked back to the mansion with steady steps.

The old man was none other than Wang Shilin, the current prime minister and minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and the grandson of Wang Xuanzhen, the former military envoy, governor of Jiangnan, prime minister, inspector, and governor of Shanyang. Sixty years ago, no one would have believed that a family that came from "hawks and minions" could become a legitimate aristocratic family in the empire sixty years later.

The rise of the Wang family began with Wang Yinwu, the military envoy during the Kaibao period of Emperor Taizong, but the real founder was Wang Xuanzhen. As the nephew of a criminal (Wang Yinwu was executed by Emperor Taizong for the Lu Duosun case), he first rose from the "Dangxiang Rebellion", and then survived the harsh political environment in the late years of Emperor Taizong as the military envoy, and was finally accepted by Emperor Taizong, becoming a representative minister in the Yongxi era.

What's more valuable is that he was able to become one of the ministers appointed by Emperor Taizong. Although he was soon squeezed out of the central government by the old nobles and could not hold on until the glorious Jianlong era, the foundation that Wang Xuanzhen laid for the Wang family was already solid enough.

Throughout the reign of Emperor Sejong, the Wang family was in a dormant state. Wang Xuanzhen's eldest son Wang Xuekun and second son Wang Xuepei both successfully entered officialdom. Wang Xuepei, in particular, was once promoted to the position of Governor of Huaidong. Although he failed to achieve the same achievements and status as his father, he firmly held on to his power and wealth.

As for Wang Shilin, he was the eldest grandson of the Wang family. He showed extraordinary talent since childhood. He could write at the age of eight and often had amazing insights into current affairs. The period of his rapid growth coincided with the stage when the empire was moving towards its heyday. He also had a deep understanding and insights into the many rectification and reforms carried out by Emperor Sejong.

Because of his many unique qualities, Wang Shilin received full support from his father and uncle. After going through the processes of Jinshi, Guanzheng, and county and prefecture officials, he was promoted to serve in the Eastern Palace in the late Jianlong period.

At that time, Emperor Shizong had just been enthroned, but he was already aging, while Crown Prince Liu Jili was in his prime. Although there were threats from Empress Yang and Liu Jiying, for the Wang family, the legitimate crown prince was still a more worthy investment.

Unfortunately, the Crown Prince Liu Jili died early, which interrupted the plans and arrangements of many people, including the Wang family. Perhaps it was because of this that Wang Shilin stood out more quickly.

The struggle for the throne that lasted for three years since the 20th year of Jianlong's reign, although it maintained some basic "bottom lines" under the suppression of Emperor Shizong, the accompanying swordplay, open guns and secret arrows were enough to make people's scalp tingle.

It was also in a seemingly extremely difficult situation that Wang Shilin gradually became the most important adviser to Liu Weizhen, who was then the grandson of the emperor, by virtue of his several suggestions and analyses.

Wang Shilin's strategy was based on "filial piety", "patience" and "waiting", but the right measure and timing were difficult to grasp. If Wang Shilin had not given advice and plans from time to time, given Liu Weizhen's mediocrity and weakness, he might not have been able to wait until the day when Liu Jiying "made a mistake".

Because of the "sharing of hardships and dangers" during the Eastern Palace period, when Liu Weizhen ascended the throne, Wang Shilin was able to successfully come to the fore. The "loyal" Liu Weizhen gave this trusted and important minister very generous rewards.

He was first appointed as Shaofu, taking charge of the emperor's treasury, and later promoted to Palace Supervisor. Within two years, he was promoted to the position of prime minister with the title of Censor-in-Chief. When Fan Zhongyan returned to the court and served as Shangshu Ling, Wang Shilin took advantage of the great changes in the court and, with the support of the emperor, was promoted to the position of Minister of Personnel, becoming the highest-ranking prime minister in the court.

Since Liu Weizhen ascended the throne, he has personally participated in the game of government affairs with only two ministers, Wang Shilin and Li Kaiyuan, the Minister of War. Li Kaiyuan was the nephew of Emperor Shizong's original wife, Empress Li, and the emperor's cousin.

This shows how Wang Shilin holds a high position in the eyes of Emperor Liu Weizhen. Although the orthodox emperor was known to the world as "mediocre and weak", Wang Shilin made great use of the value and role of the emperor's banner, both for the country and for himself.

It was also through Wang Shilin's efforts over the past ten years that the Wang family began to truly shed its ordinary skin and transformed into an imperial scholar-official family and a new bureaucratic elite.

As a scholar-official standing at the top of the empire, Wang Shilin was loyal to the king and responsible to the country. In addition to the above, he could not help but support his personal reputation and family interests.

Just like at this moment, when he returned to the mansion for court, a middle-aged man with a gloomy face and full of thoughts was already waiting in the hall. He was Wang Zhimin, the left planner of Jianghuai in the Ministry of Finance, and the nephew of Wang Shilin.

Seeing Wang Shilin coming back home, Wang Zhimin immediately stood up, hurried forward, and took Wang Shilin's hat and crown on his own initiative, with an extremely humble attitude: "Welcome second uncle back home!"

Wang Shilin just glanced at him without saying anything. With the help of two maids, he took off his noble but heavy embroidered robe, washed his hands and face, sat down, drank a sip of hot tea, and then asked Wang Zhimin, "Can't you sit still?"

During the whole process, Wang Zhimin waited obediently, not daring to behave in the slightest. When asked, he replied with grievance: "My nephew is just unwilling in his heart. How could the situation suddenly change and allow Wang Anshi to take over the magpie's nest?"

"So, you have come to me to ask for explanation and justice?" Wang Shilin said calmly.

Upon hearing the question, Wang Zhimin's face changed slightly, and he quickly said, "How dare I? I just feel very aggrieved!"

Seeing this, Wang Shilin smiled coldly and said, "Important official positions and national treasures are not the private property of my Wang family. If you think that I, as a heavenly official, can do whatever you ask, it will be foolproof, then your tenure as an official should end soon.

If you can't stand the ups and downs of officialdom and are only interested in the small gains in front of you, then you'd better resign and return to your hometown to study and farm. Otherwise, you will be trapped in it sooner or later and ruin the reputation of my Wang family!"

Wang Shilin's words were serious. Wang Zhimin felt as if cold water had been poured over his head. His legs softened and he knelt down and said, "My nephew was blinded by greed and lost his composure. I have failed to live up to your teachings. Please punish me, uncle!"

"You are already a fourth-rank official, a government official, not a primary school student. Do you still need me to give you constant guidance and education?" Wang Shilin scolded coldly.

Wang Zhimin kowtowed again and said, "My nephew knows his mistake! I will never mention Jianghai Customs again!"

"Get up!" After examining Wang Zhimin for a while, Wang Shilin finally said.

"Thank you, uncle!"

"Is a small deputy director of taxation worthy of your pursuit? Are you concerned about the heavy annual revenue from customs duties of the imperial court, or are you like those swindlers, rushing to the dens of Shanghai for the sake of making money and profit?"

Facing Wang Shilin's question, Wang Zhimin was a little flustered, but he quickly calmed down and said seriously: "Since I have been taught by my second uncle, how can I have such a mean heart and evil intentions? I only hope to be loyal to the emperor and serve the country, and govern the country and bring peace to the people!"

Wang Shilin smiled and said nothing. Then his tone lowered again: "Don't you want to know the reason? I will tell you that Fan Xiwen wrote a note to Wang Anshi. Do you think I can refuse it directly?"

Hearing this, Wang Zhimin was stunned at first, then he showed anger and said, "How can Mr. Fan, who is a minister of state, give and take public office privately and appoint people based on personal connections?"

"Okay! How can you criticize the Prime Minister?" Hearing his words, Wang Shilin's expression became serious and he shouted sternly.

"Yes!"

Having said that, it is difficult for Wang Shilin to easily cover up this matter. During the years when Fan Zhongyan was in power, as a person in the Ministry of Personnel who was deeply trusted by the emperor and a politician with good insight, ability and means, Wang Shilin cooperated with Fan Zhongyan in many aspects.

Wang Shilin tried his best to cooperate with Fan Zhongyan's many opinions on the court's selection of talents and training of officials. Although there was a background that Wang Shilin used Fan Zhongyan to establish his own authority and place his own people, he was still quite tolerant of Fan Zhongyan's interference in the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel.

Fan Zhongyan also had a very high opinion of Wang Shilin, and the two had a long-term friendly relationship. But as time went by and Wang Shilin's authority was consolidated, this "cooperative relationship" became increasingly fragile. As the head of a department and a "living Buddha" in the government hall, how could he like others' interference, even if he was the prime minister?

Take the position of Deputy Commissioner of the General Taxation Commissioner of Jianghai Customs for example. Wang Shilin could not help but suspect that Fan Zhongyan had learned the news in advance and came to set up obstacles. Because in the past two years, Fan Zhongyan began to have his eyes on the imperial system of favor and patronage. Those measures of control and suppression were very obvious. A large number of powerful children who were incompetent, lacked moral integrity or failed to govern the country were pressured and dismissed by Fan Zhongyan.

Wang Shilin instinctively felt repulsed by this matter. After all, he himself was a beneficiary of the system of imperial favors. However, it was also inappropriate for the court to be filled with unqualified children of the powerful.

In line with the principle of considering the country, Wang Shilin, while doing his best to negotiate and coordinate, also helped support Fan Zhongyan in clearing out a group of mediocre talents. However, when this trend blew on his own people, Wang Shilin was actually furious.

After thinking for a while with a serious look on his face, Wang Shilin suddenly looked up, smiled a little relaxedly, and said, "You can't go to Jianghai Customs, but you can go to the southeast. I have already made a plan. The job of Huainan Transport Envoy will fall on you."

"There will be no mistakes this time!" Wang Shilin added confidently.

Hearing this, Wang Zhimin was overjoyed and hurriedly bowed, "Thank you, second uncle, for your support!"

The Huainan Transport Commissioner was a third-rank official, the second-in-command of the Huainan Transport Department. The imperial court's fiscal and taxation transport system had been in place for a hundred years, and among the major transport departments, the Southeastern Transport Department was the most prominent, after all, it was responsible for the southeastern fiscal and taxation center, one of the most important sources of tax revenue for the imperial court, especially after the rise of overseas colonization and trade, which became even more uncontrollable.

The Southeast Transportation Office covered a wide range, including the six regions of Lianghuai, Liangjiang, Fujian and Zhejiang. Among them, the Huainan Transportation Office was responsible for the financial and tax review, collection and entry into Beijing of Lianghuai, and had great power.

In terms of money, Jianghai Customs may not have more, but the power and influence are incomparable. The key is that this is a real power position. It is conceivable that to be able to take out such a position and give it to his nephew, what kind of emotions did Wang Shilin, who is so cunning, have in his heart?

After sending Wang Zhimin away, Wang Shilin sat in the hall, thinking for a long time, his old face always gloomy. When he was thinking, his family members didn't dare to disturb him, until his smart little grandson came to his grandfather for dinner, then he showed a kind smile on his face again.

However, Wang Shilin secretly said in his heart: "Fan Xiwen, you have been the Shangshu Ling for long enough! You Fan can do it, but I Wang can't do it?"

In fact, it really cannot be done, at least not for the next person. According to the existing rules, after Fan Zhongyan, the person who will replace the Shangshu Ling will basically be a representative of the noble group.

Obviously, all Wang Shilin could strive for was the next position. Based on this, he naturally felt a great sense of urgency. After all, he was over fifty years old and didn't have much time left to wait.

Therefore, quietly and inevitably, the "anti-Fan group" has gained another main force.
(End of this chapter)