dmims Chapter 938: Promoting talents, 6 parts are set!
Chapter 938: Promoting talents, 6 parts are set!
Wisdom and experience: Gao Yao also noted that Wu She possessed "remarkable wisdom" and "good social skills." This suggests that Wu She was not pedantic or ignorant of worldly matters. The complexities of the Ministry of Personnel required not only ruthless principles but also insightful insight and the ability to navigate complex interpersonal relationships. Appointing him as a member of the Grand Council simultaneously allowed him to leverage his wisdom and gain exposure to major military and national affairs, broadening his horizons and becoming a true generalist.
Therefore, the appointment of Wu She was a key step for Gao Yao to build an efficient, fair, and directly accountable bureaucracy. He was using Wu She, a "lone minister," as the key to open the door to clean and honest administration.
As expected, when Wu She, suppressing his inner excitement, stepped out to express his gratitude, a complex atmosphere instantly spread throughout the court. Envy, surprise, confusion, and even a hint of barely concealed jealousy intertwined in the eyes of the crowd. Many of his former subordinates, who considered themselves founding heroes, couldn't help but wonder, "How could he, a surrendered minister, have earned such a prominent position?"
Gao Yao was as perceptive as seeing through fire. He didn't need to hear whispers to sense the silent undercurrent. He knew that exceptional promotions like Wu She's required the strongest possible support, otherwise the appointed would struggle under invisible pressure. So, without waiting for dissent to ferment, he issued a decisive statement to the entire court, and to any future challengers, in a dignified yet calm voice:
"I know some of you have objections, but I've already decided on the official positions. If you have any complaints, we can see how they go. From now on, all officials will be evaluated, and I will be personally responsible for the evaluation. The capable are promoted and the incompetent are demoted. This has been the law since ancient times. I will not forget your contributions, and I will not reduce the rewards you deserve. But in terms of ability, the most capable will be given the position. This will not change."
These words are powerful and profound:
Clear authority: "I have made my decision," no one can question it. This is the monarch's declaration of absolute authority, and any discussion behind his back is unwise.
Gao Yao also introduced an "assessment" system, for which he was personally responsible. This shifted the evaluation of people from vague "merit" and "qualifications" to quantifiable "ability" and "performance." He placed himself in the position of final judge, holding the ultimate authority for interpreting the evaluation system.
Distinguishing between rewards and positions: The system cleverly separates "merit" from "ability." Merit belongs to the past and is rewarded with rewards; positions, on the other hand, concern the future and must be filled by capable individuals. This appeases those who have made contributions, opens a path for advancement for newcomers with outstanding abilities, and silences any criticism based on seniority.
After demonstrating his determination to "break the rules" and "change" through the appointment of Wu She, Gao Yao immediately demonstrated the other side of "stability" and "balance" in his political layout through the appointment of Li Zhao.
"Li Zhao, Deputy Minister of the Cabinet, Grand Secretary, and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, is awarded a mansion, over a hundred servants, and a reward of ten thousand gold."
Compared to the uproar caused by Wu She, the appointment of Li Zhao seemed so logical and almost did not arouse any obvious opposition. This was also within Gao Yao's calculations.
Li Zhao's background was exceptional. He was a disciple of the "Four Elders of Shangshan." As the core figures of the Shangshan Academy, Gaoyao's training ground for talent, the Four Elders of Shangshan held a vast network of students and former officials. It's estimated that they comprised nearly 40% of Gaoyao's new dynasty's civil service, a vast and stable force. The appointment of Li Zhao was essentially a gesture of respect, appeasement, and integration of this vast civil service.
Faction Representative and Stabilizer: Li Zhao naturally became the official face of the Shangshan Four Elders. His inclusion in the cabinet and his appointment to the Ministry of Revenue served as a declaration to the entire civil service: "I recognize your knowledge and contributions, and I grant you the status and power you deserve." This greatly stabilized the hearts and minds of those in control, ensuring a smooth transition and effective functioning of the administrative system.
A lubricant of character and relationships: Li Zhao was known for his "kindness" and, while serving Gao Yao, maintained "good relations" with various factions. He was not a sharp, destructive force, but rather a gentle, coordinating glue. Within the soon-to-be-formed cabinet and six ministries, a figure with good interpersonal connections and strong connections was needed to mediate, smooth potential friction, and ensure the harmonious operation of the state machinery.
Potential Check on Wu She: While not necessarily his primary purpose, Li Zhao's presence objectively provided a subtle check on Wu She. Wu She represented the emperor's absolute will and reformist spirit, while Li Zhao represented the stability and strong foundation of the traditional civil service system. Working together within the cabinet, the two ensured that policies remained progressive while remaining grounded in reality, creating a dynamic balance.
Gao Yao's successive appointments of Wu She and Li Zhao are classic examples of imperial skill. He promoted Wu She to challenge the old, unspoken rules, spearhead administrative reforms, and ensure the absolute loyalty of key officials to the emperor. He also nurtured Li Zhao, the representative, to appease the vast civil service clique, maintain court stability, and leverage his well-connected relationships to smooth the complex political landscape.
This "destruction" and "establishment", one "hard" and one "soft", clearly outlines Gao Yao's ideal power structure: an efficient bureaucratic system with the monarch as the core, with absolutely loyal officials responsible for tackling tough problems and supervision, and capable and representative ministers responsible for stability and execution, using both civil and military forces, taking into account both the old and the new, and being both full of vitality and balanced.
In the power structure of the Xin Dynasty, which Gao Yao was constructing, every personnel appointment was like a move on the chessboard, determining not only the stability of the immediate situation but also the direction of the nation's destiny for decades to come. After establishing a core of civil officials like Xiao He, Zhang Liang, Wu She, and Li Zhao, and initially building the framework of the cabinet and the six ministries, Gao Yao continued to bestow gifts. His sharp gaze swept across the faces in the hall, those who might not have been well-known, but whose eyes gleamed with wisdom and hard work.
"Chen Ming was promoted to the position of Minister of Works, responsible for the construction of machinery and the repair of the capital."
"Hao Ji, appointed Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice, assisting in the revision of laws and the management of criminal justice throughout the country."
"Hu Jicai is the Minister of Rites, responsible for ceremonial affairs, the imperial examinations, and foreign relations."
Gao Yao repeatedly named and promoted a number of historically unknown figures to key positions as assistant ministers in the six ministries. The appearance of these names made many of his former subordinates, who prided themselves on being founding heroes, feel somewhat unfamiliar, but it also gave them a clearer understanding of the new emperor's criteria for hiring people: not just seniority or family background, but actual talent alone.