amaotonovel Chapter 1140 Aren't you treating people like donkeys?
Chapter 1140 Aren't you treating people like donkeys?
Adhering to the principle that "if the brother-in-law dares to do something reckless, the brother-in-law will give him a push," Yang Shaofeng immediately agreed with a smile.
While Chen Mo was wandering over there, Yang Shaofeng called Chen Mo aside and whispered, "After everyone stops for a while, you set an example for the officials present and talk about all those messy and trivial matters."
"Also, you need to mention the division of the Provincial Administration Commission, and while you're at it, mention that when planning the railway, you should classify the stations by grade and include the Ciyang area of Ningyang County in the special-grade marshalling yard, understand?"
Chen Mo nodded repeatedly, then asked in a low voice, "Sir, it's fine to set up a special-class freight marshalling yard in Ciyang, but shouldn't we move the passenger marshalling yard to another location? The benefits that two special-class marshalling yards, one freight and one passenger, can bring to Ningyang County will definitely be greater than that of one special-class marshalling yard."
Yang Shaofeng shook his head directly, "I would also like to set up two special-class marshalling yards, but the passenger traffic is too small. Setting up an extra passenger marshalling yard would make us look too greedy."
Chen Mo gave an "oh," then chuckled dryly twice and said, "Well... sir, in the entire Ministry of Railways, I'm the only one who understands railways and train marshalling, you see..."
Yang Shaofeng nodded almost imperceptibly. "The manpower issue is easy to handle. As long as you get today's matter sorted out, I'll get you a few men later."
"..."
Yang Shaofeng and Chen Mo were secretly discussing how to set an example for the officials present, while Liu Bowen was so angry that he wanted to kill someone.
Yes, I wasn't implicated, and no one dared to lay a hand on me.
It seems I can now stand confidently on the dry bank and watch the show unfold.
The problem is that the Censorate itself has the responsibility of "impeaching all officials," and if officials fight each other in the court, it is tantamount to the Censorate failing in its duty.
If the Censorate fails in its duties, will the unreasonable one in power cause trouble for ordinary censors?
He won't!
He'll only be eyeing me, Liu Bowen!
Today might be another day of salary deductions...
Liu Bowen grew angrier the more he thought about it. Seeing that the officials had almost finished fighting, he shouted, "Stop! What kind of behavior is this, fighting in the imperial court!"
As Liu Bowen finished speaking, the officials gradually calmed down, and Emperor Zhu even got up from his dragon throne and walked down the steps.
The hem of Yang Siyi's robe was torn.
The hat of Xue Xiang, the Minister of Works, was knocked askew.
The other officials were also in a difficult position to describe.
Some were covered in footprints, some had their hats hanging askew on their heads, and some officials were even disheveled.
Emperor Zhu frowned slightly, glanced at the officials who were still fighting like cocks and could start another fight at any moment, then looked at Chen Mo, who was still clean and tidy, and suddenly snorted coldly, "How many times has this happened already?"
None of the officials dared to answer.
Many people simply cannot remember how many times the current dynasty has fought.
Some people remember how many times this has happened, but they don't dare to answer.
After all, it was a brawl involving a group of people from the current regime.
In the mighty Ming Dynasty, there were about 350 court assemblies a year, including all the major and minor ones. However, more than 100 of those 350 assemblies were marred by brawls and other petty incidents during the court sessions. It was so ridiculous that no one wanted to talk about it.
Emperor Zhu glanced at the officials again, snorted coldly, and then instructed the historian: "Record that on the 25th day of the twelfth month of the seventh year of Hongwu, officials fought in court, resulting in many injuries. All of them will be fined three months' salary."
The historian wrote furiously on the paper: "On the 25th day of the twelfth month of the seventh year of Hongwu, the court discussed tax types and tax rates. There were many disputes, which led to a brawl among the officials. The emperor was displeased and all of them were fined three months' salary."
The historian glanced up at Emperor Zhu discreetly, then decided to erase all records when Emperor Zhu wasn't looking.
While the salary deduction was appropriate, the officials present also deserved to be punished.
The problem is that this is something you really can't just write down.
Otherwise, how will our descendants view this in decades or hundreds of years?
Will they think that this historian is deliberately smearing our Great Ming Dynasty?
Therefore, I will record the facts as they are, but I will also take the opportunity to erase these records.
Anyway, Emperor Zhu doesn't look at this stuff.
Emperor Zhu had no idea what the historians were thinking. He simply glanced coldly at the officials, then slowly walked back to the dragon throne and said, "Now that you've done your beatings and we've punished you, it's time to get down to business, isn't it?"
Chen Mo immediately stepped forward, bowed to Emperor Zhu, and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to say."
Emperor Zhu snorted coldly and said, "Bring it here."
Chen Mo bowed to Emperor Zhu again and said, "Your Majesty, I have five things to report."
"Firstly, the officials failed to fulfill their duties."
"Secondly, the powers and responsibilities of various government departments may overlap or be unclear."
"Thirdly, most of the provincial administration commissions of the Ming Dynasty have been reorganized into provinces, and the number and size of the prefectures under their jurisdiction vary. This should be changed."
"Fourth, I would like to petition that railway marshalling yards be established in all provinces of the country according to their grade, with a total of eight special-grade marshalling yards, eight first-grade marshalling yards, and the rest as second-grade marshalling yards."
"All stations are responsible for the marshalling of passenger and freight steam locomotives. The eight special-class marshalling stations are tentatively designated as Beijing Station, Beiping Station, Ningyang Station, Jinyang Station, Shenyang Station, Zhengzhou Station, Bashu Station, and Yunnan Station."
"The eight first-class marshalling yards are Chang'an Station, Fuzhou Station, Lanzhou Station, Changshan Station, Jiuyuan Station, Shanhaiguan Station, Hangzhou Station, and Guangzhou Station."
"The remaining second-class marshalling yards will be prioritized based on the location of the provincial administration offices."
At this point, Chen Mo took another deep breath and said, "Fifthly, I request that the national treasury be separated from the Ministry of Revenue and established as a separate office, directly under the Cabinet, and that the powers and responsibilities of the Cabinet be redefined."
Emperor Zhu gave Chen Mo a meaningful look.
Chen Mo submitted five requests in one go.
Of these five matters, only the fourth one is related to the Ministry of Railways; the other four refer to other government departments.
Then the problem is coming.
Chen Mo was a seasoned official, and he was not someone who spoke or acted without tact.
Only a handful of people in the entire court could get Chen Mo to stand up and speak about matters concerning other government departments.
Those who can do it and dare to do it...
Emperor Zhu turned to look at the black sesame dumplings and Yang Shaofeng, then smiled at Chen Mo and said, "Minister Chen's report is reasonable."
After Chen Mo withdrew, Emperor Zhu turned his gaze to Li Shanchang: "Mr. Shanchang, in your opinion, where should we begin with these matters?"
Li Shanchang stepped forward, bowed to Emperor Zhu, and said, "Your Majesty, I believe we should begin by clarifying the powers and responsibilities of the Cabinet."
In the present Ming Dynasty, the Grand Secretariat was roughly equivalent to the Prime Minister, but the Grand Secretary was not the Prime Minister.
To put it bluntly, the Grand Secretary has to do the work of a prime minister and also serve as a key advisor to Emperor Zhu.
You're treating people like donkeys!