Emperor Zhengde

Chapter 105 Central Civil Service Selection Examination
Wang Shu is still alive?!
that is really good!
Not only Zhu Houzhao thought so, but Ma Wensheng, Jiao Fang, Xu Jin and other officials who were keen on reforming the civil service system were all greatly surprised.

And Liu Jin! This eunuch also wanted to do something great!
Zhu Houzhao, Liu Jin, Ma Wensheng, Jiao Fang, Xu Jin and others smiled at each other. All of a sudden, they felt that the new policy of reforming the civil service system that they had been discussing at that time had the confidence to be implemented immediately!
Of course, many officials were unhappy and were secretly complaining in their hearts.

"The officials in the court will have a hard time from now on. Wang Shu has always been famous for his strict examinations, and he doesn't even consider relationships or hometown feelings! He doesn't even give us face!"

"The prince is not dead yet, I really want to die!"

"As soon as Wang Shu takes office, I should write a letter of resignation!"

……

Even the Left Censor-in-Chief Dai Shan couldn't help but touch his nose: "It is a blessing for the country that the prince survived the disaster, but I wonder if you are still able to hear and see clearly?"

Zhu Houzhao didn't care about the officials' dislike for Wang Shu. Without thinking, he ordered, "Guo Rong, help the prince into the palace!"

In fact.

Zhu Houzhao had been worried that Wang Shu might get into trouble if he was in a hurry due to his old age, so he issued an edict at that time, stating that after Wang Shu received the document, he could choose to be escorted to the capital by the Juesheng Guards, or he could choose to go to the capital by himself. In short, there was no need to rush, as his health was more important.

Perhaps Wang Shu really wanted to see the mountains and rivers as a tourist and investigate the local administration while entering the city. Or perhaps he was naturally knowledgeable as a northerner who was over 90 years old. He probably guessed that he would be in danger if he went to Beijing, so he played a trick to escape. He rode a donkey to take a small road to enter Beijing, and asked the people who escorted him to transport the coffin to Beijing by the main road. I am afraid that this was not for his own benefit, and it was not without irony.

In any case, Wang Shu has now come to Beijing.

Wang Shu, who came to Beijing, also heard about the regicide case that took place in the capital. However, he was old and had seen many major events, so he was very calm. He did not cry because none of his servants were spared, but remained calm.

But when Zhu Houzhao saw him enter the hall, he could tell that Wang Shu had a square face and thick eyebrows, and was completely devoid of humanity and was a ruthless character.

However, Zhu Houzhao still asked: "My Lord, can you still eat?"

"Your Majesty, I can still eat a bucket of rice and three pounds of meat every day!"

Wang Shu replied.

Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but burst into laughter when he heard this: "I have heard for a long time that Wang Shu has an amazing appetite. Now it seems that it is true. Let's have our meal. If you have already had your meal, I will not give you a banquet. I will give you another one later. Let's talk business first."

"Already served. Thank you, Your Majesty, for the banquet. Please do not invite me in the future. I am not used to the delicacies in the palace, and I am worried that Your Majesty will go broke!"

Wang Shu seemed to be very considerate of Zhu Houzhao and didn't want Zhu Houzhao to waste money because of him, but there was a hint of humor in his words, which made Zhu Houzhao laugh again.

The other officials laughed at this, and the atmosphere in the court became more relaxed. Zhu Houzhao originally thought that Wang Shu was a Wei Zheng-like person, serious and without any humor, and he himself might not have the patience of Emperor Taizong of Tang. But now that he saw that Wang Shu was not so old-fashioned, he had a better impression of Wang Shu and said:

"Then let's discuss business first. You came at the right time. We are currently discussing the issue of a large number of vacancies in government officials. As for why there are vacancies, you will find out after you leave the court by buying a copy of the Imperial Newspaper. You are the Minister of Personnel, so naturally you cannot be missing. As for the large number of vacancies in government officials, they must be filled. To fill the vacancies, we must select officials. As for selecting officials, I already have an idea!
"Now that there are a lot of vacancies for officials, we can first directly select those who are qualified to be officials from the Imperial College and the Juren students, but the way of selecting officials must be changed. We can't just let the Wenxuansi select officials based on the amount of money they have bribed or the strength of their connections. Past evaluations can be used as a reference.
However, officials who requested reinstatement and scholars who applied for official positions had to take an examination, which was first tried at the central level. This examination was temporarily called the Central Civil Service Examination. The first examination was held in the first year of the Zhengde reign, and was held every year thereafter.
All ministries and offices in Beijing report their vacancies to the Ministry of Personnel, which organizes the official selection examination. Candidates can choose which office and position to take the examination, but the examination is divided into a written test and an interview. The written test is organized by the Ministry of Personnel, but the test papers of each ministry and office are naturally not exactly the same. The interview is organized by officials from the Ministry of Personnel and officials from each ministry and office to interview officials from a certain office! "

Zhu Houzhao then instructed: "Now you understand, that is to say, the selection of officials from the scholars is not the responsibility of the Ministry of Personnel alone. Each of your ministries and offices must also have a dedicated person in charge. Only in this way can the officials selected be guaranteed to be truly suitable for a certain official position, so as not to ruin the court's important affairs!"

What Zhu Houzhao said is actually roughly equivalent to the civil service examination system in later generations.

Logically, as the emperor, Zhu Houzhao had the final say on the appointment and dismissal of officials, but if the officials under him disagreed, they could naturally advise him against it.

However, the civil servants did not dare to disobey Zhu Houzhao at this time, and for them, it actually meant changing the way the Ministry of Personnel selected officials to selecting officials through examinations, which was equivalent to depriving the Ministry of Personnel of its rights and interests, and also increasing the rights and interests of other departments to participate in the selection of officials. Therefore, it naturally did not matter to the officials of other departments, and it all depended on Wang Shu's opinion.

Of course, the person who should have the most objection to this should be the Langzhong of the Ministry of Personnel's Wenxuan Division, but the position of Langzhong of the Ministry of Personnel's Wenxuan Division was too low, and he had no right to complain about the power he was about to lose. Only the officials of the Ministry of Personnel and the censors of the Personnel Department could fight for him.

But now, the Left Vice Minister of Personnel, Jiao Fang, has just been promoted to the cabinet, the Right Vice Minister of Personnel, Wang Ao, is in mourning at home, and the censors of the Ministry of Personnel have almost all been killed. Therefore, it can only depend on whether the Minister of Personnel, Wang Shu, will fight for it.

Wang Shu, the Minister of Personnel, was not one to fight for fame and gain. When he heard what Zhu Houzhao said, he immediately expressed his opinion: "Your Majesty's examination and selection method is indeed a good policy that benefits the country and the people! The Ministry of Personnel used to select officials based on experience and conventions, which inevitably led to omissions. After all, how can you know whether a person is competent without observing him? It would be several years too late to examine him after he takes office. Moreover, this move can also avoid the malpractice of the Ministry of Personnel for personal gain!"

"In that case, after the king leaves the court, he will start preparing for this matter! First, we will set an example for the first round of civil servant selection in our Ming Dynasty, and then we can discuss the reform of the civil service after the officials are fully recruited!"

Zhu Houzhao then said, "There are other officials from various departments who should report the vacancies to the Ministry of Personnel as soon as possible. At the same time, they should arrange the candidates and the examination papers, and implement a confidentiality system. This examination should be as strict as the provincial and metropolitan examinations!"

"I will obey your orders!"

All the officials present responded.

Zhu Houzhao looked at the sky. Although it was already sunrise, he had no intention of adjourning the court. He decided to delay the court for a while: "I have another order, the Ministry of Rites!"

As soon as Zhu Houzhao finished speaking, the Minister of Rites Zhang Sheng and the other two left and right assistant ministers of the Ministry of Rites stood up and said, "I am here!"

"Announcement to the world, the first year of the Zhengde Emperor's reign will be the year of the Imperial Examination. To facilitate the travel of candidates far from the capital, this year's Imperial Examination will be postponed to April to make up for the lack of candidates. This is also a move by me to seek talents. In addition, the number of candidates for this Imperial Examination will be increased by 100!"

After Zhu Houzhao gave his instructions, Minister of Rites Zhang Sheng and others hurriedly said they would obey his orders. As for the civil officials, they naturally wished for more imperial examinations, after all, this would help more of their family members to pass the imperial examinations. However, this also made the civil officials and scholars forget about the fact that Zhu Houzhao had killed countless civil servants and gentry in the name of the regicide case.

(End of this chapter)