Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 529: Fury (Part 2)
The next day, Minister Zhang experienced the severity of the Commandery Princess.
Jiang Shaohua requested to have all the Ministry of Personnel’s documents from the past three years brought over.
Minister Zhang’s heart tightened, and he spoke gently, "The number of officials in each state and county in Da Liang is vast, totaling over ten thousand. The annual assessment of officials is a highly intricate affair. The documents are extensive, and if they are all brought over, it would take up too much space and cause unnecessary commotion."
"Why not just bring last year’s documents?"
Clearly, Minister Zhang had "prepared" last year’s documents. The previous two years’ documents hadn’t been "prepared" yet.
Jiang Shaohua smiled silently and said lightly, "As Minister Zhang said, there are too many officials in Da Liang, and the assessment documents are indeed numerous. Even if I looked through them alone for a month, I wouldn’t finish. I intend to browse through some of them randomly."
"If Minister Zhang continues to make excuses, I might suspect that there are some shady dealings in the Ministry of Personnel."
Minister Zhang was infuriated but could not show it, so he stifled his anger and had the documents of the past three years’ official assessments brought over.
Stack after stack, they indeed filled half a room.
Jiang Shaohua casually instructed, "Please, Wang She Ren, take out the official assessment documents of Jingzhou for the past three years. That’s what I’ll look at today."
Wang Jin received the order with a bowed gesture.
Minister Zhang couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. The Commandery Princess clearly had a plan, directly asking for Jingzhou’s official assessment documents from the past three years. It should be known that Nanyang County is within Jingzhou, and all the Prince Mansion officials are included among Jingzhou’s officials.
Wang Jin worked meticulously and efficiently, and in the span of two incense sticks of time, he found all the information Jiang Shaohua wanted. Stacked together, it measured about a foot high. It was enough to finish in an afternoon.
Jiang Shaohua sat in the chair, picked up the first book, and started reading at a leisurely pace.
Governor Xue of Jingzhou conscientiously governed for three years, achieving merit. There was no disaster within Jingzhou, nor were funds or grain requested from the court, and taxes were sufficiently delivered. This made him an exemplary official in the Da Liang bureaucratic scene.
Yet, Governor Xue’s assessment was only above average.
Jiang Shaohua slightly curled her lips, casting an inscrutable glance at Minister Zhang: "A capable minister like Governor Xue receiving only an above-average assessment shows how stringent the Ministry of Personnel’s standards are. I’m curious, what are Governor Wang Yi’s annual assessments in Jiangnan?"
Of course, they are of the highest standard.
With the Prime Minister there, the Ministry of Personnel had to rate Governor Wang’s assessments as optimal. Unfortunately, Governor Wang wasn’t discreet and was directly dismissed due to a corruption case this year, losing face for the Prime Minister.
Jiang Shaohua’s sudden mention of Wang Yi was like a not-so-subtle slap to Minister Zhang’s face.
Minister Zhang’s expression indeed turned unsightly.
Wang Jin also found it embarrassing and explained softly, "Though my brother is exceedingly greedy, he’s very loyal to the court. The taxes he submits each year are the highest among Da Liang’s states. Thus, his assessments from the Ministry of Personnel are always top-rated."
Jiang Shaohua said indifferently, "Jiangnan is affluent, even more so than the Capital City. Submitting more taxes is natural and can’t be considered a merit. Only today did I learn that the Ministry of Personnel’s standard for assessing officials in each state and county is based on tax revenue."
Wang Jin was rendered speechless.
Minister Zhang felt annoyed, and his tone inevitably became somewhat harsh: "Indeed, taxes weigh the most, but there are also considerations of local peace and whether there are civil disturbances or calamities. The Commandery Princess hasn’t finished reviewing, so it’s too early to make conclusions!"
Jiang Shaohua glanced at Minister Zhang, seemingly amused: "I was just making offhand remarks. Why is Minister Zhang so anxious?"
"Wang She Ren, don’t record these earlier conversations. So Minister Zhang’s reputation won’t be damaged when presented to the Emperor, causing him to resent me out of shame."
Minister Zhang: "..."
This Jiang Shaohua is indeed sharp-tongued.
Minister Zhang was so frustrated that his teeth itched, so he shut his mouth altogether, assuming a posture of magnanimity, unwilling to argue with a young girl.
Jiang Shaohua continued reading and soon came across the assessment documents for the Prince Mansion officials of Nanyang.
The mansion officials were nominally court officials, but in reality, they received stipends from the Prince Mansion and followed her orders as the Commandery Princess. The Ministry of Personnel’s annual assessments held little meaning for them.
However, when Jiang Shaohua saw that both Chief Historian Chen and Chief Historian Feng were rated above average, she was somewhat displeased, her face turning stern: "Minister Zhang, Nanyang County is my vassal territory, and all taxes go to the Nanyang Prince Mansion. Yet these years, hasn’t Nanyang County offered a large amount of grain to the court annually?"
Minister Zhang anticipated hearing such words but couldn’t evade responding: "Yes, Nanyang County has indeed offered a lot of grain in recent years."
Jiang Shaohua coldly snorted, "Based on the Ministry of Personnel’s standards for assessing officials, both Chief Historian Chen and Chief Historian Feng are capable ministers, yet neither received a top grade?"
"If all the court officials were like Governor Wang, would Da Liang be filled with parasites?"
Wang Jin kept his head down, silently taking notes.
Minister Zhang, his face burning with embarrassment, forced himself to explain, "Both Chief Historian Chen and Chief Historian Feng are Prince Mansion officials, with no need for promotion or concern about whether their assessments are top-grade. So..."
"So, the Ministry of Personnel deliberately harshly rated them as above average?" Jiang Shaohua stared coldly at Minister Zhang, speaking incisively: "Only today do I realize how you perform your duties as an official, Minister Zhang. The assessments of officials are vital to the stability of the bureaucratic system. As Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, are you living up to the Emperor’s trust with such self-interest?"
Minister Zhang, caught in a vulnerable spot, had no choice but to stand up and apologize.
Jiang Shaohua let Minister Zhang linger for a moment before saying coolly, "For the matters of right and wrong, I will report them to the Emperor, who will make the final decision. There’s no need for Minister Zhang to accompany here any longer; you may attend to your duties."
Thus Minister Zhang left, humiliated.
Wang Jin, his wrist sore from writing, finally paused for a moment to rest. He looked up at Jiang Shaohua with a somewhat complex gaze.
After a long pause, Wang Jin softly broke the silence: "The Commandery Princess seemed in a bad mood today, being particularly harsh on Minister Zhang."
Wang Jin, as expected, was meticulous.
Her heart was worried about Cui Du’s injuries; how could her mood improve? Minister Zhang was unfortunate today, becoming her outlet for frustration.
Jiang Shaohua naturally wouldn’t mention this to Wang Jin. She glanced over: "Did I say anything wrong?"
Wang Jin immediately fell silent.
...
After two more days, the news of Elder Changning’s attempted assassination at the field manor finally reached the palace.
Emperor Taihe was immediately alarmed and summoned Jiang Shaohua.
Jiang Shaohua had held back for several days, and today she finally released her pent-up emotions, her eyes slightly reddened: "Your Majesty, this minister’s sister has done too much during her days in the Capital City, causing dissatisfaction. Having failed to assassinate me, they acted against Cui Du in secret."
"If this continues, I’m afraid even the Nanyang Prince Mansion’s officials will be in danger."
"This minister’s sister longs to return home. I request Your Majesty’s permission to depart for Nanyang County immediately."
Emperor Taihe, feeling rather guilty, sighed: "During your days in the Capital City, you’ve alleviated burdens and solved problems for me, which has indeed been tiring. If you wish to return, then go. I shall issue you a special decree so that in the future, you can come to the Capital City anytime without having to wait for my summons to enter."
