Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 806: Reformation (Part 1)

The Ministry of Personnel underwent a major upheaval from top to bottom, with officials being reassigned to the Capital City.

Before they could present their invitations to the Wang Family, Vice Minister Wang gathered everyone for a meeting.

Chancellor Chen, who also served as the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, had the final say on personnel changes within the Ministry of Personnel. Naturally, he was going to attend this important meeting.

Chancellor Chen spoke briefly and concisely: "You are all officials who have achieved excellent evaluations for five consecutive years and have been reassigned to the Ministry of Personnel."

"The Emperor works diligently for the nation’s prosperity, and has high expectations for the Ministry of Personnel. As recipients of the ruler’s salary, you should share the ruler’s burdens."

The group of officials from the Ministry of Personnel, all trembling with caution, respectfully agreed in unison.

Most of them were originally from the Prime Minister Faction. However, Prime Minister Wang had retired years ago, and the young Vice Minister Wang was famous for his loyalty to the Empress. The term "Prime Minister Faction" hadn’t been mentioned for a long time.

The Empress employs people without regard to their backgrounds, drawing talent from all over Da Liang to the Ministry of Personnel in the Capital City to eradicate corruption and reform official administration. Whether their ancestors gathered blessings or they were hit by bad luck remains uncertain.

They had all come already, there was no escape now; they could only brace themselves and heed orders.

After Chancellor Chen’s admonishment, Vice Minister Wang took out a few pages and steadily proclaimed the new policies of the Ministry of Personnel.

The officials from the Ministry of Personnel straightened their backs uniformly, each focusing intently.

Chancellor Chen observed this, secretly satisfied.

Having Wang Jin oversee the Ministry of Personnel was indeed a brilliant move by the Empress. The Prime Minister Faction’s officials were spread throughout the court, making a complete removal hurt internal structure and stability. Executing some, suppressing others, and promoting some slowly divided and absorbed them, an emperor’s mature tactic.

There’s no rush in proceeding slowly. The Empress is still young and can occupy the Dragon Throne for decades, advancing step by step.

Vice Minister Wang spent several months devising the new policies for the Ministry of Personnel, which had already been approved by the Emperor before today’s announcement.

Of utmost importance were two points: the reform of the official evaluation process, and the changes in the official appointment mechanism.

The evaluation process was strict and detailed, listing dozens of criteria. Each criterion is scored accordingly.

The annual evaluation changed to four times a year; every three months constitutes an evaluation. Four consecutive failures result in immediate dismissal.

The official promotion system was unlike before, featuring an intricate evaluation scoring system.

The dense regulations made heads spin.

Thinking of the ensuing complex tasks, the Ministry of Personnel officials felt chilled in their hearts, but dared not show it, solemnly agreeing.

While the Ministry of Personnel underwent reform, the remaining five government offices also pushed for innovation.

For instance, the Ministry of Rites’ main responsibilities include overseeing rituals and the Imperial Examination, with the former concerning the court’s dignity and the latter selecting talent for the nation. Virtually all officials in Da Liang’s bureaucracy were Imperial Examination appointees, following a system hundreds of years old.

The Empress summoned Minister Dong separately, questioning and proposing improvements to the current Imperial Examination system.

Minister Dong, only slightly less adept than Chancellor Chen in understanding imperial intent, pondered deeply overnight after hearing the Emperor’s words, gaining a dozen white hairs, and drafting a thick memorial.

In the memorial, Minister Dong thoroughly analyzed the Imperial Examination system, deeming it somewhat outdated, relying solely on classical writings to choose officials, with overly singular standards. In Da Liang, those who could afford education and repeated exams came mostly from literary or wealthy noble families. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

This rendered the Imperial Examination a privilege for noble families, with few ordinary citizens’ children able to endure the harsh schooling for an Advanced Scholar degree.

Therefore, Da Liang’s states should establish schools free of tuition to enlighten children of appropriate age.

Although Nanyang School had been established for years, showing gradual results, it primarily admitted girls and was too small. It must expand, allowing more children to study and gain literacy, opening the people’s minds.

Additionally, Da Liang’s states need diverse talents, such as those skilled in farming, horse-rearing, iron crafting, etc. The court should establish corresponding examination systems to select the top talents in various trades, appoint them as officials, grant them court salaries, and enlist them into court service.

This memorial was publicly read at the grand court meeting, shaking all officials.

The reform of the Ministry of Personnel wasn’t as urgent; officials could slowly adapt. However, the innovation in the Imperial Examination by the Ministry of Rites was imminent, stirring officials’ sentiments.

Put plainly, Da Liang’s bureaucratic system had existed for two centuries. Noble families were the true beneficiaries, funding numerous scholars with family wealth, paving ways for them, and in turn, getting fed once they excelled, further enriching the wealthy and impoverishing the poor—an unavoidable phenomenon.

Now, the Empress had stabilized her throne for five years, intending to overturn the chess board and redefine the rules.

The noble families, along with those behind them, would be the first to endure tremendous shock.

This time, without incitement, officials stood out and vehemently countered Minister Dong.

Minister Dong, well-prepared, rebutted them sharply.

Beside Prime Minister Dong stood Minister Yang, Minister Ding, and Chancellor Chen. Minister Ji, with sparse hair, could not interject nor did he intend to; instead, he tucked his hands into his sleeves, silently contemplating another resignation memorial.

Over the past two years, Minister Ji submitted resignation memorials every few months. The Emperor continuously declined, kindly persuading him to stay. With shaky stance and indecisive will, Minister Ji remained, staying past Minister Zhang’s downfall, still within the court.

The Imperial Examination reform had little impact on the military generals. They enjoyed watching the commotion, as the civil servants bickered, disregarding their dignity.

Sitting on the Dragon Throne, the Empress did not hurry to express her stance, coldly observing the ministers’ debates and then glanced at Lu Zhen.

Lu Zhen nodded slightly, stepped forward, and loudly declared, "Silence, stop making a commotion during the court meeting."

The Empress’s majesty was formidable, instilling awe in the ministers, and even those dissatisfied obeyed.

The court quieted down.

The Emperor stood from the Dragon Throne: "I have already reviewed Minister Dong’s memorial and approved it. Reading it during the court meeting today is to inform all ministers. It’s best if you agree; dissent doesn’t matter, as I have decided to implement the new policies from this year’s Imperial Examination."