Chapter 70: The Sovereign's Will to Expand the Territory and Wash Away Old Grievances (Part 3)

The conversation between Emperor Shenzong and Wang Anshi continued, ranging from the affairs of the northwest border to the grain transport in the Jiangnan region. Only Wen Yanbo would seize the opportunity to attack Wang Anshi, while Zeng Gongliang, Chen Shengzhi, and others stood by like wooden puppets. If it weren't for Shenzong occasionally asking them questions, these high-ranking officials would have been reduced to mere decorations.

Since Wang Anshi took office as Deputy Chancellor, although he had not yet been promoted to Chancellor, he had already gained control of the Zhongshu (Chancellery) due to Shenzong's trust. There were originally five officials in the Council of State: Chancellor Fu Bi and Zeng Gongliang, Deputy Chancellors Wang Anshi, Zhao Bian, and Tang Jie. However, Zeng Gongliang, being old and frail, no longer handled state affairs; Fu Bi, due to political disagreements with Wang Anshi, had retired due to illness; Zhao Bian, lacking ability, often complained; and Tang Jie, after several debates with Wang Anshi in front of the emperor, died from a carbuncle caused by anger. Only Wang Anshi, vigorous and full of energy, handled all the state affairs alone. Thus, the world had a joke: "Life, old age, illness, death, and suffering" — Wang Anshi was alive, Zeng Gongliang was old, Fu Bi was ill, Tang Jie was dead, and Zhao Bian was suffering. Although the Council of State had changed a few members, Wang Anshi's control over the Zhongshu remained unchanged.

The discussion in the Chongzheng Hall continued until nearly noon, and most of the state affairs that needed to be discussed had been handled. The Prime Minister Zeng Gongliang, who had been silent like a stone, finally spoke: "It is almost noon, and we dare not delay the emperor's meal. We will take our leave!"

With the Prime Minister's words, the senior officials in the hall all took their leave. Shenzong did not detain them, but hesitated for a moment and said to Wang Anshi: "Minister Wang, please stay a moment."

Wang Anshi stopped as instructed, and the other officials left the hall as usual. Since Wang Anshi came to the capital from Jiangning, such private discussions had become so frequent that no one found it surprising.

Wang Anshi stood in the hall, waiting for Shenzong to speak. Shenzong took three memorials marked with notes from a stack on the imperial desk and had a nearby eunuch hand them to Wang Anshi.

Wang Anshi unfolded them and saw that they were the three recommendation letters he had signed the previous day, which were then forwarded to Shenzong for review: Wang Shao, the Chief Secretary of the Qin-Feng Circuit, Wu Yan, the Military Governor of Xiong-Wu, and Zhang Shouyue, the Chief Inspector of the Qin-Feng Circuit, all recommended Han Gang, a commoner from Chengji County, to serve as a clerk in the Qin-Feng Circuit Military and Civil Affairs Office, responsible for managing the sick and wounded. Zhang Shouyue recommended Han Gang only for the latter position.

Wang Anshi glanced at them and raised his head; he knew what Shenzong was about to say.

"Minister Wang, what has Wang Shao been doing this year?" Shenzong's voice carried a hint of anger.

The main direction of the war in the northwest was progressing smoothly, but the expected flanks showed no movement. Wang Shao had been in Qin-Feng for a year, and now his only achievement was a recommendation letter! Shenzong, considering Wang Anshi's face, did not reprimand him in public, but now he had to say it:

"Han Gang, recommended by Wang Shao and two others, is only eighteen years old and has no official background. Should I issue a special decree to appoint a ninth-rank official? Are there no other talents in Qin-Zhou?"

According to the long-standing official appointment system, those under twenty-five years old could not hold real positions unless they had passed the imperial examinations. They could have an official title but not a real post, meaning they could receive a salary but not perform official duties.

The Song Dynasty, after a century of rule, had become increasingly generous to its officials. High-ranking civil and military officials could pass on their titles to their children. The children of chancellors and high officials often received official titles at the age of ten or even eight. If these young, inexperienced officials were given real positions, it would cause chaos in the state affairs. Therefore, there were established rules: those who passed the imperial examinations could be appointed at the age of twenty, while those who received titles through family connections could be appointed at the age of twenty-five. Those below these ages could not hold real positions. Unless multiple people recommended them, they had to wait until they reached the required age.

However, the number of officials receiving titles through family connections had increased, and it was easy for the children of officials to find several of their father's friends to recommend them. As a result, the old appointment system had become a mere formality. Wang Anshi had revised the appointment laws, setting the age limits at twenty and twenty-five. If an exception was to be made, it required a special decree from the emperor, not just multiple recommendations.

This law had just been revised and had not yet been promulgated. Wang Shao and Zhang Shouyue, unaware of the changes, recommended the eighteen-year-old Han Gang. According to the old rules, with three recommendations, Han Gang could have held a real position. But under the new rules, without a special decree from Shenzong, Han Gang could have an official title but not a real post.

For most officials, a life of receiving a salary without performing duties was not bad. Scholars preferred simple and prosperous regions, and if they had to handle cases daily without any benefits, they would avoid such positions. But if Han Gang could not perform duties, what was the point of Wang Shao and Zhang Shouyue recommending him?

Wang Anshi understood this clearly, which is why he submitted Wang Shao's recommendation to the emperor, requesting a special decree. Otherwise, these three recommendations would not have needed to be presented to Shenzong; the Council of State could have handled them directly, as the appointment of a ninth-rank official did not require the emperor's attention.

The emperor's anger was like a thunderstorm for many officials, but Wang Anshi remained calm. He adhered to the principle of not doubting those he trusted. Wang Shao's prospects in the northwest were promising, and Shenzong also had high hopes for him. Although the Song and Xia were on the brink of war over the ownership of Suide City, requiring astronomical amounts of supplies, the court could not provide much material support to Qin-Feng or Wang Shao. However, Wang Anshi was prepared to meet Wang Shao's personnel needs as much as possible.

"Han Gang, though young, is exceptionally talented. If he were from a noble family, one might suspect favoritism. But in the recommendation, Wang Shao only mentioned that Han Gang is the son of a gardener, with no notable family background. Moreover, this gardener's son has been recommended by Wang Shao, Wu Yan, and Zhang Shouyue. It is impossible for him to have gained their recommendations through flattery."

"Wang Shao also mentioned in his recommendation that Han Gang, while escorting supplies, encountered bandits in the mountain pass, personally executed two cowards, and led the civilian workers to fight the enemy, defeating several times their number and beheading over thirty. His bravery is evident. In Gangu City, he treated hundreds of wounded without waiting for orders, showing his benevolence. In Qin-Zhou, he uncovered a plot by the Western Xia spies, demonstrating his intelligence. Although Han Gang is young, his actions show the demeanor of a great minister. Your Majesty should not underestimate him because of his youth."

Wang Anshi, now favored by the emperor, was regarded by Shenzong as a mentor. No matter how angry Shenzong was, he was often persuaded by Wang Anshi. After a moment's thought, he nodded in agreement: "Then, as Minister Wang suggests. It's just a ninth-rank position; granting it to Wang Shao is no problem."

"Your Majesty is wise."

A hint of joy flashed across Wang Anshi's face. Wang Shao and Li Shizhong had always been at odds, and Wang Shao's jurisdiction over the Qin-Feng Circuit's ethnic affairs had caused friction with the Chief Inspector Xiang Bao. With Li Shizhong and Xiang Bao opposing him, few officials in Qin-Feng dared to associate with Wang Shao. For a year, Wang Shao's work in Qin-Feng had made no progress, but now that he had Wu Yan and Zhang Shouyue recommending someone, it showed that his situation in Qin-Zhou had finally improved.

Wang Anshi did not know Han Gang's background, assuming that Wu Yan and Zhang Shouyue's recommendations were due to Wang Shao's influence. Based on the available information, this conclusion was reasonable, but Han Gang must have some ability for Wang Shao to recommend him.

Currently, there were more officials than positions, with three or four officials competing for one post. New officials had to wait in the capital for positions to become available, and they had to register their family backgrounds with the Personnel Department. There were also time limits; they had to register by the 15th of the first month of each season (January, April, July, and October) to be considered. Otherwise, they would have to wait until the next quarter.

Wang Shao had been in the Qin-Feng Circuit for a year without recommending anyone, showing how cautious he was. But now, he not only recommended Han Gang for an official title but also assigned him a post, indicating his confidence in the eighteen-year-old Han Gang or his desperate need for his talents.

Through Wang Shao's recommendation, Wang Anshi became interested in Han Gang. A poor scholar, through hard work and talent, gained the recognition of a high official. Such stories were common, like Fan Zhongyan, who lost his father at a young age, and Ouyang Xiu, who practiced calligraphy with reed pens. They gained fame through poetry and literature, not like Han Gang, who relied on bravery, intelligence, and courage... and benevolence.

For Wang Anshi, poetry and literature were not enough, despite being one of the greatest literary figures of his time. The Song Dynasty needed capable and ambitious young people. Even if Han Gang was only eighteen, with a few more years of experience in local and capital positions, he could become a pillar of the state.

In recent times, the old ministers and friends who had recommended Wang Anshi had gradually turned against him. Now, he preferred to appoint ambitious young people. The young officials he promoted, such as Lu Huiqing, Zeng Bu, Zhang Dun, and Wang Shao, were not old in the official world, having served for only about ten years. The corrupt old laws, which many officials had become accustomed to after years in office, needed to be challenged by young people. Without this, the Song Dynasty would gradually decay and eventually fall. Wang Anshi's call for reform, "A Century of Peace," addressed this issue.

The Song Dynasty had enjoyed a century of peace, but what about the next century... what would happen?