The next day, Minister Zhang experienced the severity of the Commandery Princess.
Jiang Shaohua requested to have all the Ministry of Personnel’s docunts 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 assessnt of officials is a highly intricate affair. The docunts 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 docunts?"
Clearly, Minister Zhang had "prepared" last year’s docunts. The previous two years’ docunts 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 assessnt docunts are indeed nurous. Even if I looked through them alone for a month, I wouldn’t finish. I intend to browse through so of them randomly."
"If Minister Zhang continues to make excuses, I might suspect that there are so shady dealings in the Ministry of Personnel."
Minister Zhang was infuriated but could not show it, so he stifled his anger and had the docunts of the past three years’ official assessnts brought over.
Stack after stack, they indeed filled half a room.
Jiang Shaohua casually instructed, "Please, Wang She Ren, take out the official assessnt docunts 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 assessnt docunts 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 ticulously and efficiently, and in the span of two incense sticks of ti, he found all the information Jiang Shaohua wanted. Stacked together, it asured 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 rit. 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 assessnt 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 assessnt shows how stringent the Ministry of Personnel’s standards are. I’m curious, what are Governor Wang Yi’s annual assessnts in Jiangnan?"
Of course, they are of the highest standard.
With the Pri Minister there, the Ministry of Personnel had to rate Governor Wang’s assessnts as optimal. Unfortunately, Governor Wang wasn’t discreet and was directly dismissed due to a corruption case this year, losing face for the Pri Minister.
Jiang Shaohua’s sudden ntion 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 assessnts 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 rit. 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 beca sowhat 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 out of sha."
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 ca across the assessnt docunts 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 assessnts held little aning for them.
However, when Jiang Shaohua saw that both Chief Historian Chen and Chief Historian Feng were rated above average, she was sowhat 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 embarrassnt, 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 assessnts 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 assessnts 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 mont 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 mont to rest. He looked up at Jiang Shaohua with a sowhat complex gaze.
After a long pause, Wang Jin softly broke the silence: "The Commandery Princess seed in a bad mood today, being particularly harsh on Minister Zhang."
Wang Jin, as expected, was ticulous.
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 ntion this to Wang Jin. She glanced over: "Did I say anything wrong?"
Wang Jin imdiately 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 imdiately alard 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 , 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 ho. I request Your Majesty’s permission to depart for Nanyang County imdiately."
Emperor Taihe, feeling rather guilty, sighed: "During your days in the Capital City, you’ve alleviated burdens and solved problems for , 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 co to the Capital City anyti without having to wait for my summons to enter."
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