There is no wall that is impenetrable.
Zhu Ping'an, the magistrate of Jingnan, fought against more than 3,000 Japanese pirates with less than 100 yamen runners and soldiers. He not only defended the county of Jingnan, but also beheaded 824 Japanese pirates in battle and recovered the neighboring county of Taiping which had been occupied by the Japanese pirates.
This news spread quickly in Wuyi Palace, first to the official circles, and then to the people.
A civil official who was not even twenty years old was banished from the capital, and then he made outstanding military achievements that even military generals could hardly achieve...
This news was very popular. For a time, people could occasionally hear people talking about it in the streets of the capital. Of course, it was not as popular as the concubine of a certain high-ranking official having an affair with the housekeeper, the cow of a certain family giving birth to a calf with two heads, or the selection of the top ten courtesans in the capital, but it was still one of the more popular topics.
Although Zhu Ping'an is not a prominent figure in the capital, he is no longer an unknown person.
Of course, in Jingnan, and even in Taiping, Zhu Pingan is an absolute celebrity, without a doubt.
This was the third day after the Japanese invasion was completely quelled. On this day, Zhu Ping'an did something that shocked the entire Jingnan.
Zhu Ping'an dismissed all the clerks in the six departments of the county government, leaving only those yamen runners who had defended the city together during the Japanese invasion and were recorded in the books.
After the post-disaster reconstruction was on track, Zhu Ping'an finally had time to reorganize the county government with his power to defeat the Japanese pirates.
"Sir, why did you dismiss all of us? Are you kidding me?!"
"That's right. All the clerks in the six rooms are dismissed. There has never been such a ridiculous thing since ancient times."
"Think twice, sir. No matter how wise and brave you are, without our help, how can you manage the huge Jingnan County by yourself? Even if you have three heads and six arms, you can't do it."
"My grandfather was a tax clerk, and my father was a tax clerk. My generation is already the third generation of tax clerks, and the inheritance cannot be broken with me. Three generations of my family have worked hard for the county government, day in and day out, for decades. Sir, you have only been in Jingnan for a month, how can you dismiss us just like that?"
"It takes three to make a good man. Without us, how can the county government run? Sir, you can't act on your own..."
After receiving Zhu Ping'an's dismissal order, the clerks in the county government office became indignant and surrounded him to demand an explanation, using both soft and hard tactics to force him to revoke his dismissal order.
"Why should I dismiss you?"
Zhu Ping'an, who was at the center, glanced calmly at the six clerks and pulled the corners of his mouth into an arc.
"That's right, why do you want to dismiss us? County Magistrate Zhang, Chief Clerk Yao and Dianshi Li have not yet arrived at the yamen. If you want to dismiss us, you should at least ask for their opinions, right?!" The clerks in the six rooms were indignant.
"Just because I am the magistrate of Jingnan." Zhu Ping'an slowly glanced at everyone and said lightly.
In ancient times, only the county magistrate, the county magistrate, the chief clerk, and the registrar were appointed by the court, and were selected by the Ministry of Personnel and appointed and dismissed by the central government. The other six clerks were not appointed by the court, and were all appointed and dismissed by the county magistrate. In ancient times, the county magistrate implemented the county magistrate responsibility system. The county magistrate held great power and could directly decide on the appointment of the six clerks. As the magistrate of Jingnan, Zhu Ping'an naturally had this power. Whether he dismissed one or all of them, his words were final.
Zhu Ping'an would have to spend some time to deal with Zhang Xiancheng, Yao Zhubo, Li Dianshi and others. He would need to impeach them and the Ministry of Personnel would make the appointments and dismissals. But Zhu Ping'an only needed to say one word to deal with the six clerks. Time was precious, so Zhu Ping'an was too lazy to waste time.
"Yes, you are the magistrate, you do have the power, but you can't abuse it like this!"
"Sir, we refuse to accept this! Why are you dismissing all of us six clerks for no reason?!"
"We are going to the capital to reason..."
As this matter concerns their vital interests, the clerks are clamoring. As clerks of the Sixth House, although they have no rank, are not officials, and have no salary, they can only receive meager subsidies for paper and pen fees, copying fees, meals and other expenses from the county government, but they hold real power. Using the power in their hands, they can eat, drink, take bribes... ... They have a hundred, a thousand ways to enrich themselves.
"For no reason?!" Zhu Ping'an frowned when he heard this. "How could you say that word?"
The expressions of the six clerks were a little unnatural, but they soon straightened their necks again.
"Your first crime is that you have been absent from work for thirty-eight consecutive days without reason. The Ming Dynasty Code stipulates that officials who are absent from work for one day will be flogged with 20 small boards, and one more level will be imposed for every three days, up to 100 large boards for every 20 days. During the Hongwu period, an official from the Ministry of Revenue was dismissed from his post after being absent from work for thirty days. Officials who are absent are punished like this, let alone you petty officials?! Moreover, you have been absent from work for thirty-eight days without reason, your crime is even worse! What's wrong with me dismissing you?" Zhu Ping'an glanced at everyone expressionlessly, pulled the corner of his mouth, and said coldly.
Well!
ah!
The clerks of the six rooms looked at each other in bewilderment. They were late on purpose in order to curry favor with Zhang Xiancheng and his men. They had secretly united to cause trouble for Zhu Pingan and wanted to drive him out of Jingnan County. Thinking about it, their actions at that time were so stupid that they were actively handing the handle to Zhu Pingan.
However, even so, they did not acknowledge it.
"Absent from work? No, sir, I was not absent from work. I reported to work on time every day."
"Won't."
"Nonsense..."
The clerks shook their heads and denied it three times, refusing to admit it.
Having expected this, Zhu Ping'an curled his lips in disdain, took out a signature book from his arms, and threw it on the table. "Your daily attendance is recorded in the book, and you sign your names every day."
"Liu Mu, Da Dao, please take a good look at the sign-in book. If any of you disagree, you can go forward and check with Liu Mu."
Zhu Ping'an glanced at the clerks.
All the clerks lowered their heads, not daring to look Zhu Ping'an in the eye. Now they understood why Zhu Ping'an was staring at them at the door every day to sign in... It turned out that he was waiting for them here. This little thief had been harboring evil intentions since then. It was hateful. At that time, I thought I had embarrassed this little thief. Now thinking about it, I don't know why the little thief was laughing in his heart.
"Sir, we are just late, not absent from work."
"Yes, that's right. We weren't absent from work. We were just a little late."
A few clerks were quibbling over words, sticking their necks out to argue that they were just late, not absent.
"Now it seems that you are not only 'lazy', but also 'mediocre'. What is 'diligent'? Reporting to work on time and leaving office on time is the minimum requirement of 'diligent'. You can't distinguish between 'diligent' and 'lazy'! Not only are you lazy officials, but you are also mediocre officials. I should dismiss you from your posts."
Zhu Ping'an glanced at them and curled his lips in disdain, "You are quibbling with me about words, aren't you courting death?"
Those men immediately blushed and their heads almost dropped to their crotches.