As the prefectural magistrate, although he was only a prefectural magistrate in name, he still had a lot of authority. Although the Shun Tian prefectural magistrate wasn't high and it was difficult for him to make the final decision, he could still go directly to the palace to meet with the monarch.
Just this point alone was something that others could not compare to. Of course, the privileges of the Shun Tian prefectural magistrate were not limited to this.
One had to know that the Prefect of the Obedient Heaven Prefecture was a third-rank official. In the imperial court, he was definitely a high-ranking official. He wouldn't exchange his position even if he was given the position of an inspector.
Above him was the Assistant Minister of the Six Ministries. It was even possible for him to be promoted to the Minister of the Six Ministries.
However, the position of the Obedient Prefecture magistrate was too prone to accidents.
The prefectural magistrate of Fuguo Province was the hardest job, not to mention a place like Shun Tian Prefecture.
Of course, the prefectural magistrate would definitely have a high position, just like the current prefectural magistrate of Shun Tian or the high-ranking officials of the capital in the future.
If your status was low, no one would take you seriously and no one would pay attention to you. You wouldn't be able to get anything done.
One had to know that in the capital of the future, it was not an ordinary high-class concubine.
Zhang Guoyan had been the Obedient Prefectural Magistrate since the ninth year of Wanli, and this was already the sixth year of his tenure. It could be said that he had already been in office twice.
If nothing unexpected happened, it was already the turning point.
Either he would be promoted to the Six Ministries or the Imperial Censorate, one of the Nine Ministers, or he would be sent to a place to be a governor.
If he was an Imperial Inspector, he would be demoted by half a rank.
When he was summoned by the emperor, Zhang Guoyan was also a little confused.
Although he had been the prefectural magistrate for six years, Zhang Guoyan could not be considered a favored official of the Emperor. This was the first time he had been summoned in private.
When Zhang Guoyan entered the palace, he was still very perturbed.
One had to know that entering the Imperial Palace wasn't all about getting promoted. There were many cases of people dying without a complete corpse.
When Zhang Guoyan walked in, Zhu Yijun looked at him and couldn't help but sigh in his heart. Zhang Guoyan was really young!
In fact, Zhang Guoyan was only fifty-two this year. Six years ago, when he became the prefectural magistrate, he was only forty-six.
At this age, he was definitely a young high-ranking official in Daming.
In the future, a 46-year-old mayor of Beijing or a high-ranking official was considered young.
"Yin Zhang Guoyan of the Obedient Prefecture greets Your Majesty!"
Zhang Guoyan bowed to Zhu Yijun respectfully and said loudly, "Long live Your Majesty!"
Zhu Yijun said with a faint smile, "You may dispense with the formalities!"
After Zhang Guoyan stood up straight, Zhu Yijun said, "I called you here today because I have a few things to discuss with you!" With that said, Zhu Yijun smiled amiably.
This was terrifying. Zhang Guoyan was shocked, and his heart skipped a beat.
Although he didn't have much contact with His Majesty, Zhang Guoyan still knew some things about His Majesty. He was definitely a strong young emperor.
Especially after pushing down the officials and gentry, this young emperor's power increased greatly.
To a subject like him, using the word 'discuss' would probably result in a disaster.
In fact, if it was the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet or the Minister of the Six Ministries, it would be more appropriate to use the word 'discuss'. Although he was the magistrate of the Shun Tian Prefecture, he couldn't afford to use the word 'discuss'.
But His Majesty had used it. What did that mean?
It meant that this matter was very difficult to handle!
Could it be that His Majesty felt embarrassed and used the word 'discuss'? But was it really a discussion?
Understanding this, Zhang Guoyan immediately became nervous. He quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please instruct me!"
Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Guoyan and couldn't help but sigh in his heart. This Zhang Guoyan was indeed a smart person!
"The matter is like this. Civil servants have been tried out in Da Xing for a while. I feel that it is not bad and want to promote it in the Shun Tian Prefecture. I want to ask you for your opinion."
Since he was a smart person, there was no need to beat around the bush. He could just say it directly.
Just this?
Zhang Guoyan immediately let out a sigh of relief and bowed, "Your Majesty, rest assured. Leave this matter to me. I will definitely do my best!"
However, Zhang Guoyan still opened his mouth to ask, "Your Majesty, there are some petty officials in the Shun Tian Prefecture who are doing very well. Can they be promoted to civil servants?
I am willing to be their guarantor. "
In fact, were there capable people among the petty officials?
Of course there were, and there were a lot of them.
It was just that the crooks were mixed in with the honest folk. Coupled with the fact that there was no hope of promotion, many of the petty officials had "fallen".
If they were promoted to civil servants, they would have the opportunity to be promoted. That would definitely be different.
Zhang Guoyan being willing to be a guarantor for these people was something that Zhu Yijun didn't expect.
In fact, it wasn't the first time that civil officials looked down on petty officials. Zhang Guoyan, with his status as the prefectural magistrate of the Shun Tian Prefecture, was willing to be a guarantor for these petty officials. It was not easy. However, Zhu Yijun was happy to see this happen.
In fact, the civil servant training had just begun. It was impossible to remove all the petty officials and replace them with civil servants.
Firstly, there was not enough manpower. Secondly, there would be a problem with the connection. It was necessary to absorb some of the outstanding people from the petty officials.
Zhu Yijun nodded and said, "We will do as you say."
"You go back and prepare!" Zhu Yijun waved his hand, indicating that Zhang Guoyan could leave.
"I will take my leave!"
After Zhang Guoyan left the Wenhua Palace, he still felt a little uneasy. Could it really be because of the civil servant matter?
But his heart felt uneasy, as if something bad was going to happen.
When Zhu Yijun waited for Zhang Guoyan to leave, a smile appeared on his face.
"Send an edict to Hai Rui and Xu Wenchang, let them enter the palace tomorrow to see the Emperor." Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Jing and said.
"Yes, Imperial Majesty!" Zhang Jing quickly replied.
This time, Zhu Yijun was prepared to let Hai Rui retire. Since last winter, Hai Rui's health had been deteriorating day by day.
Although the Imperial Hospital tried their best to treat him, there were some things that couldn't be forced.
Hai Rui was already 73 years old this year. If he were to be an official, he probably wouldn't live for more than two years.
This veteran of three dynasties, Zhu Yijun didn't want him to die so early. He wanted to live for a few more years to see the changes in the Daming and see what he could do for the Daming so that he wouldn't have any regrets.
In the previous life, Hai Rui was old, but he was still worried about the Daming.
He remonstrated to the death, hoping that the imperial court could restore the laws of the Founding Father, and peel off the skin of the 80 strings of coins to make up for the grass, to stop the decline of the Daming.
Although the old Hai Rui was useless, he didn't know how to save the country that he loved deeply.
But Hai Rui could see it, and he knew that if he didn't do something, the Daming would really be finished.
In fact, there were many people who had this kind of insight, but not many were willing to do it. So, Zhu Yijun hoped that in this life, Hai Rui would take a look. At least when he finished building the Shun Tian Prefecture, he wouldn't leave with regrets, and could go to the underworld with a smile.
Hai Rui's life of running around for the people was not in vain, and he was loyal to the Daming all his life.
The next morning, Zhu Yijun woke up as usual, and then practiced a set of martial arts to train his body. After eating breakfast, he went to the Wenhua Palace to work. Just as he arrived at the Wenhua Palace, Zhang Jing brought Hai Rui and Xu Wenchang in.
Compared to Hai Rui, Xu Wenchang's condition was much better, and he was in high spirits.
In fact, Xu Wenchang was only 56 years old this year. In this life, he didn't have the knot in his heart, and he didn't have the dejection of his old age. In addition, he had been recuperating in the capital, so his body was very good.
On the other hand, Hai Rui, who was beside Xu Wenchang, didn't seem to be in good condition.
Maybe it was because of the warm weather, but compared to last winter, it was a lot better. Last winter, when it was the worst, Hai Rui was bedridden.
Now, he didn't have any problems walking, which made Zhu Yijun breathe a sigh of relief.
"This subject greets Your Majesty!" After the two saw Zhu Yijun, they bowed to greet Zhu Yijun.
Zhu Yijun nodded, and then said with a smile, "You may rise!"
After saying this, Zhu Yijun said to the young eunuch who was serving at the side, "Prepare a stool for you."
In the past, this kind of work was done by Zhang Jing, but ever since Zhang Jing came back from Yangzhou, he didn't do this anymore.
This was respect for Zhang Jing's status, and at the same time, it was also a reward for him.
After the two people sat down, Zhu Yijun said with a smile, "Hai, you's body is better?
Seeing your body getting better, zhen is very relieved! "
Hai Rui quickly said, "This subject thanks Your Majesty for your concern. These days, there are no major problems."
Zhu Yijun nodded, and then turned to Xu Wenchang with a smile, "Xu, you look good. There are a few palace maids of suitable age in zhen's palace. How about zhen bestow one to you?"
Hearing this, Xu Wenchang's expression didn't change at all. He said with a smile, "Your Majesty, this subject thanks for your kindness, but this subject is very good right now. I don't need anyone to serve me."
At this time, Hai Rui said, "Your Majesty, Xu Wenchang found one himself."
Zhu Yijun was stunned, and then quickly asked with a smile, "There's such a thing?
Hai, you quickly tell zhen. "
It seemed that Hai Rui really got along well with Xu Wenchang and was in a good mood. Otherwise, he wouldn't have said this.
On the other hand, Xu Wenchang looked embarrassed at this time. He wanted to say a few words, but he didn't know what to say.
"It's a widowed woman in Daxing County," Hai Rui said lightly.
"She lost her husband when she was young, and she didn't have any children. Her family opened a bookstore, and she helped every day."
Speaking of this, Hai Rui paused before continuing, "She usually likes poetry, calligraphy, and painting."
Likes poetry?
This was what Xu Wenchang was good at. Coupled with Xu Wenchang's reputation, it would probably be a matter of time.
Xu Wenchang was multi-talented. He was unique in poetry, drama, calligraphy, and other aspects. Together with Jie Jin and Yang Shen, he was known as the "Three Talents of the Ming Dynasty."
He was the founder of China's "Splash-Ink Freehand Painting School," and the originator of the "Ivy School."
His paintings could absorb the essence of predecessors and be reborn. They didn't seek to be similar in form, but to be similar in spirit. Mountains and rivers, people, flowers and birds, bamboo, and stone, everything was done. Flowers and plants were the most outstanding, and he created a generation of painting styles. He had a great influence on the painting world of later generations (such as Ba Da Shanren, Shi Tao, Eight Freaks of Yangzhou, etc.).
He was good at calligraphy and had written a lot of poems. He was known as "a talented person of the Ming generation."
He could play the zither, was proficient in music, and loved opera. His "Southern Ci Narration" was the first theoretical monograph on Southern opera in China. His other plays, "Four Tones of the Ape," "Song Dai Xiao," and other collections have been handed down.
With such talent, it was naturally easy to attract a widow.
Zhu Yijun asked with a smile, "How old is the woman?
Do you need my help? "