The Prosperous Era of Longwan

In Wei Guangde's mind, he seemed to have returned to the business of studying two years ago, except that he had changed from entering and exiting the academy to entering and exiting the Hanlin Academy.

The days went by like this, and in the blink of an eye it had been more than half a month since Wei Guangde entered the Hanlin Academy.

Wei Guangde arrived at the Hanlin Academy early that morning, wrote his name and time in the signature book, put down his pen and was about to walk in, when he suddenly heard someone calling his name from behind.

Wei Guangde turned around and saw Yin Taigang coming out of the sedan chair. He saw him and spoke out.

Wei Guangde could not leave, so he immediately bowed and stood waiting.

Yin Tai walked up and first said to Wei Guangde, "Wait a moment."

Then he picked up the pen that Wei Guangde had just put down and wrote his name and time on the signature book. Then he said to Wei Guangde, "Let's go in together. I have something else to tell you."

"Yes, Master Yin."

Wei Guangde replied respectfully, and then followed Yin Tai into the Hanlin Academy.

"You have been here for almost a month. I have also read the article you gave to Wu Qing yesterday. I can only say that it is not satisfactory."

According to the Hanlin Academy's requirements for Shuji scholars, they must submit one article per month. As for the subject matter, as long as the bachelor assigned does not require it, they can freely develop it.

Obviously, Yin Tai was dissatisfied with the first assignment Wei Guangde handed in, but he said it tactfully and did not say it directly.

"Yes, yes, I will study harder."

Wei Guangde could only reply submissively.

"In a moment, you can call Secretary Li and go to the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Household Affairs to bring back this month's Zaoli silver and Zhitang silver."

Yin Tai led him to his official residence, making arrangements as he walked, and soon left it to Wei Guangde to do the errand of the Hanlin Academy going to various ministries to ask for firewood, Zaoli silver and Zhitang silver.

Well, Wei Guangde doesn't object to this, he has to find something to do, right?

From now on, I can wander around Beijing on the pretext of asking for money, and don't have to be confined to the Hanlin Academy.

However, when it comes to Chaixinzaoliyin and Zhitangyin, Wei Guangde still has some opinions.

As long as they are appointed as officials, they will be allocated Chaixinzaoliyin and Zhitangyin according to the system. This is also an added benefit for Ming Dynasty officials in addition to their meager salary.

Just say that Tao Dalin and Jinda, who are in the seventh rank, have been appointed officials. If they are appointed, they can receive two soap officials' money every year. As for whether you want to be a soap official or not, that is your business. You don't want that money. You can put it in your pocket.

Let's talk about the silver of a soap official. Each soap official is fixed at twelve taels of silver a year. It depends on how many soap officials you have in your official position, how much silver you can get.

For example, a seventh-grade county magistrate can have four officials, so he can get the forty-eight taels of silver in addition to his salary.

Although the number of soap officials is related to grade, it is also related to position.

For example, Tao Dalin and Jinda, although they are also in the seventh rank, they can only be matched with two soap officials, which is an extra twenty-four taels of silver.

As for Wei Guangde, I'm sorry. Shujishi is not an official position, so naturally there is no quota for Zaoli. He can only help others to get the money, but he can't get any money.

This official Yin was not the same as the one Lu Bu received from Wei Guangde's public house. Lu Bu went to the Ministry of War every month with a note signed by the Hanlin Academy to collect his salary.

As for Zhitang Yin, like Zaoli Yin, they are benefits added by officials. They were originally used by officials to recruit documents to help them handle official duties, which is equivalent to the office funds allocated by departments at all levels to support some temporary workers.

However, most of this money went directly into the pockets of officials, who directly used the scribes in the yamen to do things. Who would spend money to recruit them themselves? Only important roles like the master would pay to hire people to fill them.

There are also those who take the initiative to seek refuge. For example, most of the yamen servants in local yamen do not spend Shangguan's money, and local officials also like to use such people.

Of course, they are not fools, nor are they selfless. They do things for the court without money, but for the official clothes they wear. With this layer of skin, they can run rampant in the local area and extort money.

After talking too much, Wei Guangde came out of the public room of Yin Zhangyuan and first looked for Secretary Li. Since he had an errand, he naturally had to contact him first to avoid any mistakes.

"Master Wei, I have something to do on my hands. After I finish the calculations, I will go to the Ministry of Finance. How about I go to the Ministry of War in the afternoon."

Secretary Li should be summarizing the pen and ink money reported by each house at the moment, and also report it to Shuntian Mansion for withdrawal, so after understanding Wei Guangde's intention, he immediately bowed and said.

"Okay, when you're done, come to the public room and find me."

Wei Guangde nodded and looked at the notes on his table, which should have been issued by his own apartment. He knew that he was busy at the moment and was too lazy to pay attention to them. After setting the time, he went out.

As usual, he went to the Inspection Hall to check on the revision of the book, but he just flipped through the revised pages without urging, and everyone knew it well.

Wei Guangde got this job from Wu Qing, so he naturally had to do his best to save his face. Once Wu Xueshi asked about the progress of his book revision, he at least wanted to know which year he had completed it.

"You're busy, so don't rush. The main thing is not to make mistakes."

This was said every day, and several Dian Bo and Shi Zhao were busy nodding their heads, saying nothing.

In other words, facing these documents and imperial edicts can help Wei Guangde regain the feeling that he is still an official, because they are officials.

Back in the public house, Wei Guangde continued to read his Taoist classics, hoping that his skills would improve further.

In the Hanlin Academy, there is indeed enough time to sit down and read a book, provided that nothing else affects your mood.

In the past month, Wei Guangde had almost recognized all the bachelors in the Hanlin Academy.

Although most of these people still have positions outside, they still have to go back to the Hanlin Academy every month to do some things. For example, Gao Gong is still the editor of the canons, and Yin Shizhen is responsible for the preparatory work of Jiajing Shilu.

An hour later, Secretary Li came to Wei Guangde's public house to see him. The purpose was obviously self-evident.

When they left the Hanlin Academy, they were followed by four government servants who had been asked to help them get money.

The locations of the various government offices in the Ming Dynasty were relatively concentrated. Except for the Criminal Department, the other five departments were all located on the east side of the Qianbu Corridor inside the Daming Gate. On the west side were institutions such as the Fifth Army Governor's Office and Jinyiwei. The government offices of the Three Laws Division were on the east side. Those placed on other streets in the inner city are not clustered together like most institutions.

The Hanlin Academy was also on the east side, not far from the Ministry of Finance. Wei Guangde did not get on his carriage when he went out, but walked to the Ministry of Finance.

In the past, Li Shuli was responsible for handling these matters. It is estimated that after Wei Guangde came to him, he also went to Yin Zhangyuan to ask, so he is still respectful to Wei Guangde now.

Not long after, they arrived at the Ministry of Hubu. Li Shuli took Wei Guangde into the Hubu Yamen with ease. He did not go anywhere else and went straight to the Fujian Qing Officials Department under the Hubu. All expenses of Beizhili and the Yamen in Beijing were transferred to the Hubu Yamen. Managed here.

In the Ming Dynasty, the Ministry of Household Affairs was divided into the Thirteen Qing Li Divisions according to regions: Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Huguang, Fujian, Shandong, Shanxi, Henan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guizhou. , each in charge of its own province.

However, these thirteen Qing officials also took charge of the two capitals, Zhili tribute and salaries of various divisions and guards, grain and wages of border towns, as well as various warehouses, salt courses, and banknotes.

For example, the salaries of hundreds of officials, nobles, and clans were allocated to the Shaanxi Qing Officials Division, the Shandong Qing Officials Division was responsible for the salt service, the Yunnan Qing Officials Division was responsible for water transportation, and the expenditures of the yamen were assigned to the Fujian Qing Officials Division. They were also responsible for accounting for Northern Zhili's tribute.

It didn't take long for Li Shuli to check the previously sent bills with Yuan Wai Lang of the Fujian Qing Dynasty Department, sign and seal the bills. Wei Guangde also signed his name on the bills that needed to be kept by the Ministry of Household Affairs. It's complete.

"Master Wei, let's go to the Du branch to collect the money now. This trip to the household department is complete."

After leaving the door of the Fujian Qing Officials Department, Li Shuli explained to Wei Guangde in a low voice, "This is the case every month. It's just that the expenses reported at the beginning of the month need to be checked carefully. According to Master Yin's wishes, the accounts will be checked every month in the future. All minor officials can be sent directly to the adults for review."

Wei Guangde nodded. He only had to make two trips at the beginning to understand the process. In the future, he only needed to check the numbers reported by Secretary Li at the public office, and there was no need to continue running away.

At this moment, both of them inadvertently looked towards the lobby on the left. Someone seemed to be roaring loudly just now, but it was silent again.

In the yamen, it is very rude to yell so loudly, but it is not common, not to mention this is the yamen of the Ministry of Finance.

Wei Guangde wanted to go over and have a look, but was immediately stopped by Secretary Li in a low voice.

"Master Wei, this is a matter for the Ministry of Revenue. No matter what happens in the lobby over there, it has nothing to do with our Hanlin Academy."

Li Shuli is also a seasoned official. The two loud shouts just now were obviously shouted out by an official in anger. If you think about it, you can guess that it is nothing more than official strife.

Naturally, it is not easy for other outsiders to see such things happening in the Hubu Yamen. What's more, they are still here to do business. Even if they want to see it, they have to finish their business and stop by to take a look and then leave.

He quickly took out the money from the bank and asked the four officers who came to pick it up. They left the bank and walked out along the way they came.

As luck would have it, all the chief officers who came this time were on duty, so there was no need to wait for anyone, and things were done quickly.

"Brother Zicheng."

As he was walking, Wei Guangde suddenly saw someone very familiar in front of him. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Li Shida, a Jinshi scholar in the same subject.

"Guangde, what are you doing here?"

When Li Shida heard the sound, he turned around and saw a few people coming over. The leader was actually Wei Guangde, and he asked strangely.

"The Headmaster sent me here to get the Zhitang Silver, and now it's here. What are you looking at?"

Wei Guangde smiled.

"there."

Li Shida pointed to the Hubu lobby in front and whispered: "There are people from Prince Yu's Mansion, and they are arguing with the ministry officials."

"Who's coming?"

Wei Guangde asked curiously. Most of the lecturers in Prince Yu's Mansion were responsible for the prince's errands. For example, Chen Yiqin and Yin Shizhen, two Hanlin reviewers, also held the official position of washing horses in Prince Yu's Mansion.

Of course, this horse washing was not Bi Mawen's job, which was dedicated to bathing horses. It was equivalent to the duties of Yu Wang's secretary.

The position of washing horses existed in the Qin Dynasty. According to the "Xu Hanshu Baiguan Zhi" records: "When a prince comes out, he should be straight, and one person should be in front to lead the majesty, which is the meaning of washing horses."

This sentence roughly talks about the person who serves as the leader at the front of the team to show the prince's majesty when the prince goes on a tour. He is the "Xima", also known as "Xianma", which means driving in front of the horse.

"I heard it's Yin Shizhen, and he's still reasoning inside."

Li Shida said softly.

"Master Yin, hey, this matter is causing trouble, and your household department is not taking care of it."

Wei Guangde whispered.

"There are people above who are suppressing me. Who can think of a way to make Da Situ obey his orders? If you think about it, you will know that it is extraordinary. It's just those few people."

Li Shida defended the officer.

What he said was correct, but it really didn't make sense, so he didn't have much confidence in what he said.

Wei Guangde met Yin Shizhen twice in the Hanlin Academy, and he had a good impression on Wei Guangde. What's more, Yin Shizhen also had a place in the so-called poetry circle of the Ming Dynasty at this time.

Although the overall level of Ming Dynasty poetry tends to be popular, so it seems very mediocre when compared with other dynasties, but among the short ones, choose the tall one, and this Yin Shizhen is one of them.

In the current poetry circle, the four great masters known as "Bian, Li, Yin, and Xu" refer to Bian Gong, Li Panlong, Yin Shidan, and Xu Bangcai.

"I can't control it. You have to continue to watch the fun. After a while, the Shangguan will come out to arrest you and kick you out of the capital."

Wei Guangde smiled and said, "I have heard people say that most of us who are Jinshi will have the opportunity to stay in Beijing. You should perform well and strive to be an official in Beijing. You should be promoted quickly."

"real?"

When Li Shida heard what Wei Guangde said, he immediately asked excitedly.

"Why am I lying to you? The Japanese pirates are poisoning Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and the officials there are in trouble. The governor and censor there are constantly sending petitions to send more officials to strengthen the local area.

You can do the math for yourself. Those who lose their offices will lose their offices, and those who will be dismissed will be dismissed. Now please add more officials. How many more official positions will there be?

These positions are not dared to be filled by those of us who have just entered the officialdom, so we can only choose capable local officials. People from the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Sixth Section are eager to move, and many people want to go down to the local government to become parents. "

Wei Guangde replied softly.

"It's good to be a Beijing official, but I still don't feel comfortable in the local area, and there are many benefits."

Li Shida said with a smile.

"It's better to stay in Beijing as much as possible first, fix the human relations in the court, and then move up to one and a half ranks. I think this is good."

Wei Guangde smiled and expressed his thoughts, "I've finished my work here and will leave first."

Wei Guangde smiled and cupped his hands at Li Shida, and left with Li Shuli and others.

However, when they walked through the lobby of the Ministry of Household Affairs and headed towards the door of the Ministry of Household Affairs, they heard footsteps behind them, and someone said angrily to the inside: "This is the end of my words. You adults will weigh the consequences."

It really was Yin Shizhen's voice, Wei Guangde muttered in his heart.

Hearing the footsteps getting louder behind him, Wei Guangde stood under the doorway of the Ministry of Household Affairs and turned around to face Yin Shizhen, who was walking angrily. He bowed and saluted, "Wei Guangde, a junior student, has met Mr. Yin."