Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 695: Asserting Authority (Part 2)

A huge oppressive force came rushing in.

Only by being within it, can one truly experience the imposing presence like Mount Tai pressing down.

Minister Zhang is now in a dilemma. If he bows his head and yields, then his authority as the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel would be gone, and he’d be easily swayed by the Emperor at any time.

If he doesn’t yield and continues this standoff, how will it end?

At the critical moment, Minister Dai, feeling compassionate, stepped forward to ease the tension for Minister Zhang: "Minister Zhang has indeed been muddleheaded today. With all these courtiers present, it’s up to the Emperor to appoint anyone he wishes; how could it be the place for a minister to question that."

"Moreover, it was Imperial Censor Qian himself who announced his intent to resign, and the Emperor merely granted his wish. It’s not as if the Emperor wanted to dismiss him! So why is Minister Zhang still contending with the Emperor here?"

"Isn’t it best to quickly accept the task!"

Jiang Shaohua was quite courteous to Minister Dai, a statesman who had served under four emperors and was over seventy, smiling slightly: "Since Minister Dai pleads, I will give Minister Dai face today and not pursue this matter further. Minister Zhang, quickly take on the task!"

If he doesn’t conveniently step down, he’ll have his old disgraced face revealed today.

Minister Zhang exhaled a heavy breath, bowed, and accepted the command: "I obey your majesty’s command!"

After the grand assembly was dismissed, Minister Zhang exited the Jinluan Palace with a normal expression. Minister Dai, aged and with unsteady legs, slowly followed behind Minister Zhang.

Upon reaching the palace gates, Minister Dai naturally boarded Minister Zhang’s carriage.

The Six Ministries’ government offices were very close to the Imperial Palace, and even at a slow pace, the carriage would arrive in the time it takes to burn an incense stick.

Minister Dai glanced at the stern-faced Minister Zhang and suddenly asked, "Minister Zhang, what time is it now?"

Minister Zhang furrowed his brow, his tone not too smooth: "It was originally the third year of Taihe. With the new emperor ascending the throne, it’s now the first year of Zhao Ping. The Emperor has changed, the era has changed; everyone knows this, so why bring it up just to point it out to me."

Minister Dai raised an eyebrow and gave Minister Zhang a deep look, "You understand clearly, comprehending all the principles, count my remarks as meddling."

Minister Zhang was caught off guard, unable to throw a fit at Minister Dai.

In terms of rank, they were equals. In terms of seniority, Minister Dai entered the court even earlier than Prime Minister Wang and had stood firm in the officialdom for over forty years, serving four emperors. As for their personal relationship, they were both members of the Prime Minister Faction and maintained close contact usually. Even if their current political views differed, they were closer than others.

Minister Zhang hesitated for a moment, then murmured, "Thanks for helping me out in the court today."

Minister Dai sighed, "I can’t help much longer! At my age, I can’t occupy this position forever. While the Emperor still gives the veteran ministers some face, within a year or so, I will voluntarily resign due to age."

Another enigmatic hint hidden within his words.

The Emperor is willing to respect the veteran ministers now because he has just ascended and needs to stabilize the court. In a few years, when the Emperor securely occupies the dragon throne, if veteran ministers still don’t learn their place and rely on their seniority to act imprudently, they won’t meet a good end. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Minister Zhang understands but refuses to bend his knees or lower his head, much less let go, often struggling with the Emperor. Everyone else might not know, but how could Minister Dai not see who was behind Imperial Censor Qian’s defiance in the grand assembly?

However, Minister Dai’s advice merely fell on deaf ears for Minister Zhang.

Minister Zhang sidestepped: "Minister Dai, even at your age, are still hale and hearty. You could last another three or five years as the Minister of the Ministry of Justice."

Minister Dai sighed silently and smoothly shifted the topic.

...

Imperial Censor Qian "resigned" that day, becoming the third official dismissed after the new emperor ascended.

With Imperial Censor Qian gone, an official position opened in the Imperial Censorate. Many awaited in the Ministry of Personnel as candidates. According to past practices, those seeking the seventh-rank imperial censor position often needed to visit the Ministry of Personnel to "make some moves."

The Ministry of Revenue had ample margins, yet not as much as the Ministry of Personnel, and the reason lay therein.

The Ministry of Revenue officials siphoned funds and solicited bribes layer by layer. With a thorough check of the accounts, it was easy to catch hold of incriminating evidence. In the Ministry of Personnel, officials ran around for positions, exchanged gifts and bribes in complex ways; it was extremely challenging to thoroughly investigate.

For example, transferring a field manor or shop at a price far below the market value. Or purchasing a Ministry of Personnel official’s calligraphy at an inflated price. Such transactions were conducted secretly, how would one investigate?

Even if uncovered, what charges could they possibly be convicted of?

The waters of the Ministry of Personnel ran too deep. Minister Zhang, after serving as Minister of the Ministry of Personnel for over two decades, wielded control over the evaluation and promotion of mid to low-level officials, causing the Zhang family to be bustling year-round, rivaling the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

Minister Zhang tightly held the Ministry of Personnel, unwilling to loosen his grip. Even though this day would inevitably come, he was determined to delay it as much as possible, deciding that among the Six Ministries, his had to be last.

However, a crowd of officials, eager to fill the vacancy, found themselves hesitant to make their moves.

Minister Zhang’s headstrong audaciousness made them fearful of stirring up trouble under the Emperor’s watchful eyes. Doctor Wan was beheaded and stripped of his property for just a few thousand taels of silver, so when weighing their worth, it was better to remain prudent!

Of course, there were cowards, but there were also the bold ones. One official, in mourning for three years, who had been lobbying in the Ministry of Personnel, was intent on securing the imperial censor position. Privately, he purchased an antique vase from a clan member of Minister Zhang for a high price of fifty thousand taels of silver.

This imperial censor position ultimately fell to this bold and wealthy Imperial Censor Cao.

...

"Fifty thousand taels?"

In Zhaohai Palace, Jiang Shaohua glanced down at the note in her hand, letting out a cold laugh: "Minister Zhang has quite the appetite. Isn’t he afraid of bursting?"

At this moment, only Song Yuan, Chief Historian Chen, Ma Yaosong, and Chen Jinyu were present in the hall. These four were Jiang Shaohua’s staunch confidants.

Ma Yaosong held a position in the Ministry of Personnel; previously, he had traveled to Huaiyang County, and after returning, reported to the Ministry of Personnel. During these times, he didn’t undertake any specific tasks, just kept his ears and eyes open, witnessing and hearing what needed to be seen and heard.

In fact, spending silver to run for a position had been a long-standing practice in the Ministry of Personnel. During the life and reign of Emperor Taihe, such matters weren’t even worth discussing for leisure among people.

Holding office without seeking financial gain, what kind of official was that? If one could fulfill duties while also making money, then they were truly capable ministers. Expecting service without offering any benefits, how was that possible?

Since Jiang Shaohua ascended the Dragon Throne, the rules of officialdom needed to be thoroughly revised.

The beheading of Doctor Wan made it clear that Her Majesty the Empress intended to strongly cleanse the officialdom’s atmosphere. Jiang Yuanwailang’s reassignment to the Ministry of Internal Affairs indicated that even in front of Her Majesty, the Grand Empress Dowager’s face was significantly discounted.

"When does the Emperor intend to act on the Ministry of Personnel?" Chief Historian Chen asked in a deep voice.

A cold glint flashed in Jiang Shaohua’s eyes: "For now, allow Minister Zhang to act wild for a bit longer. I will first reorganize the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War."

The Ministry of Personnel had rotted for many years, and reversing its official administration was no easy task.

With control over the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War, having money and soldiers in hand, what in this world couldn’t be managed?