The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror
Chapter 337 - 153: The Deputy Imperial Censor of the Right and Jinhua Assistant General (Subscribe Please)_3

Chapter 337: Chapter 153: The Deputy Imperial Censor of the Right and Jinhua Assistant General (Subscribe Please)_3

This level of promotion, although it seems like a significant ascent for County Magistrate Zheng, actually depends merely on a single word from Vice Minister Zhang.

Because the Vice Minister of Personnel primarily oversees the performance evaluations of ordinary officials, while the Assistant Minister practically makes the final decision on promotions.

As for the Minister, matters of this level must be presented to the Heavenly Official for approval, which is no minor ordeal.

Of course, even after approval is granted, it still has to go through the procedures at the Heavenly Official’s office.

But it’s just a formality.

Generally speaking, once the Little Heavenly Official decides on something, unless it involves significant interests, the Heavenly Official tends to turn a blind eye.

After all, he is the recognized successor of the Minister of Personnel.

After you leave office, your people still have to watch his expressions.

Don’t treat the future undefined like it’s nothing!

Xu Qing’s thoughts raced, and he became even more enthusiastic toward County Magistrate Zheng, instructing his servants to serve fine tea.

County Magistrate Zheng has never received such special treatment at Old Master Xu’s home, and his eyes were slightly red. To show his sincerity, he didn’t even bother to roll up his sleeves.

In history, An Lushan regarded the Consort as his mother.

He, Zheng, just lacked such an opportunity.

After some pleasantries, Zheng was sent away.

Xu Qing anticipated the upheaval from departing members and dismissed clerks, it was all expected; pity that these people only used the influence of alcohol to act crazily and did not escalate the matter significantly, otherwise it could have served as a pretext to make an example out of a few.

"The heads of the aristocratic families and scholars, each one is slippery; even if you make an example of some, they only bow quicker. However, a weasel never fails to steal chickens; the days ahead are long, we will just slowly engage in this battle." Xu Qing has now established the Jiangzuo Alliance, currently spearheaded by himself, several Jiangning Prefecture scholars, and Recovery Society impoverished members leading the Agricultural Association.

The Agricultural Association is still in its initial stage and considered small-scale.

On the other hand, he plans to establish his own financial house during the development of the alliance, using the incense money from Golden Ray Monastery.

Fayue is decent at financial management, but he still needs more professional talents, which he’ll have to identify gradually.

The business is snowballing into something massive, with numerous concerns.

Xu Qing, despite the urgency, didn’t recklessly recruit people.

Because it is still early days, loyalty is far more important than capability.

Regarding County Magistrate Zheng, there’s another level of consideration.

Always keep some buffer space with Duke Wei.

At present, while it appears adversarial, it’s not yet to the point of irreconcilable differences.

As long as Duke Wei understands that Xu Qing’s foundation is stable and cannot be abruptly removed, he will not truly fight to the death.

Moreover, with such a buffering relationship from Duke Wei’s side, if the court ever suppresses Xu Qing, it cannot be too severe.

This is a longer-term plan, but it needs early arrangement.

Xu Qing sees the big picture very clearly.

The central court is also proceeding step-by-step.

Clearing field registers is an excuse, taking this opportunity to bring up the anti-pirate matters, thus temporarily calming the Southeast.

With the Southeast pacified, reopening court-endorsed maritime trade could be profitable.

With external benefits coming in, internal resistance to reforms will decrease.

But this will also affect the smuggling interests of the Southeast aristocracy.

Looking at the roots, the smuggling aristocracy is a unique force because those who control silk, tea, and porcelain are not the same group as the smuggling aristocracy.

Thus, the central court’s opposition forces are not as large as anticipated.

Displaying the initiative of clearing field registers is essentially much ado about nothing; this undoubtedly signals the central court’s reluctance to excessively pressure the aristocrats, scholars, and nobility.

Put simply, it’s showing a willingness to flip the table first, bargaining afterward, with the real goal being to suppress smuggling and seize this part of the profit.

And using this chance to train a Navy, if maritime discourse is controlled, it can naturally threaten the Southeast Gentlemen further and stabilize the financial resources of the Southeast, ensuring that subsequent reforms do not halt due to Southeast issues.

Undoubtedly, the Grand Secretary’s strategic thinking is very clear.

But whether it can succeed remains uncertain.

Xu Qing, now not at the core of the Reform Faction, is reluctantly forged into the cutting edge of the Grand Secretary’s reforms, a necessary evil.

Had he not chosen this path, he would have been gone long ago, unable to accomplish what he has now.

And without rapidly growing in strength, he wouldn’t be able to handle the crises in the coming years.

These are all dictated by the times.

Xu Qing continues to make detailed plans, methodically arranging for his subordinates to implement them; regardless of effectiveness, they keep pushing forward.

Whether mistakes are made or things are done poorly doesn’t matter.

First, gain experiences and lessons, then later summarize; as long as things are being done, ways to improve will always emerge.

Unknowingly, Xu Qing waits for Mr. Wu.

He is now the Right Imperial Censor!

...

...

A group arrives at Heavenly Fragrance Courtyard to welcome and clean the dust off Mr. Wu.

Magistrate He naturally also appears.

Though capable of bending and flexing, seeing his old subordinate so quickly ascend to an Inspector in the Inspection Bureau still sours his heart.

Is it just because Wu knew Xu Qing earlier?

He knew Mrs. Xu even earlier than that!

Alas, these days with Feng Wu in seclusion, otherwise Magistrate He would still have to go through his niece.

Additionally, his contacts with Feng Xun’an have grown more frequent lately.

Past grudges, under the pressure of career advancement, have long since vanished.

That’s how bureaucracy works, each person to a role; if you’re slow, you’re behind in every step. You must fight for your position.

As the group mingled, Mr. Wu truly felt as if he were in another world.

He never expected that he, merely a Third Class Scholar, would, within less than two years, have such a bizarre sequence of experiences.