Chapter 1007: The process of local officials taking up local posts
Although Sun Shan lived in Changsha for two or three years, he was only in the academy at that time and didn't know anyone from outside, let alone local students.
At the moment, it was impossible to find traders like Chen Dongling and Zhong Weifang, so naturally there was no channel to sell the goods.
I have become good friends with Senior Brother Chen Jin here, but selling goods is such a small matter that I would never bother the Chen family.
Friendship is accumulated bit by bit and is also lost bit by bit. You will never ask for help unless it is necessary.
After thinking for a while, he said, "Master, I'll leave the sale to you and Butler Sun. I only have one request, to double the profit."
Earning twice the profit can be said to be quite a small profit, and Sun Shan's request is not high at all.
It might be because this was the first time that Zhang and Sun Dingnan were doing business on their own.
Master Zhang had thought about this problem before he came, so he said, "Master, I used to work in a dental shop. This time we should go to the local dental shop to ask. If the price is right, we can sell it directly to the dental shop. It will save effort and time, and we don't have to sell it separately."
Sun Shan had no objection to this: "Leave everything to Master and Steward Sun. You two can discuss it."
Master Zhang liked such straightforward masters the most, and said happily: "Master, I understand."
After a brief time with Sun Shan, Master Zhang has already acquired some of Sun Shan's temperament, which is to focus on the big things and let go of the small things.
He is in charge of the main matters and leaves the minor matters to others without interfering.
This kind of personality has both good and bad sides, but it is still good for workers like them, as it gives them enough freedom and they don't have to report to their employers all the time.
Master Zhang walked out of the room with satisfaction, turned around and went to Sun Dingnan to discuss the sale of goods.
This was the first task Sun Shan gave him, and he had to do it well.
The next morning, Sun Shan dressed in new clothes and took Gui Ge'er to report to the government office.
Local officials in Daqian have to go through a lot of procedures when they take up their posts.
These include: receiving the certificate of appointment--filing with superiors--entering the country and taking up the post--official sacrifice--official handover and other procedures.
After Sun Shan passed the imperial examination and participated in the selection of officials by the Ministry of Personnel, he was appointed magistrate of Yuanlu County.
The Ministry of Personnel would register Sun Shan's background and information about his entry into the government, which would be called a "tiehuang" (an important certificate for officials' promotion, removal, and transfer), or a personnel file record, which would record Sun Shan's future promotions or demotions, rewards, and punishments.
After the files are registered, the Ministry of Personnel will issue the official with a certificate of appointment, which is also called a diploma.
This official certificate is very important. It is a necessary document for Sun Shan to take office. The certificate records Sun Shan’s position and the time of his arrival. After Sun Shan takes office, he must hand in the document for verification.
For Sun Shan, who had just been appointed as an official, after receiving his official certificate, he would be given a "Code of Conduct for Officials", which he needed to read carefully to understand what he should do.
Because Daqian had no cameras, no mobile phones, and no fax machines, its personnel files were incomplete, and impersonation was inevitable.
In order to avoid this situation and ensure that officials can take up their posts smoothly, the Kanhe system was implemented.
"Kanhe" is a token used for military mobilization and officials taking office. Kanhe can be divided into two parts, one half is kept by the dispatcher and the other half is kept by the recipient.
So when Sun Shan took up a post outside, he received an official certificate and half a deed.
After Sun Shan arrived at the place, he took out the "inspection certificate" to check its authenticity to ensure that Sun Shan was indeed Sun Shan, the magistrate of Yuanlu County.
Of course, for a minor official of the seventh rank like Sun Shan, the Ministry of Personnel would only issue an "official certificate" and select him through the Ministry of Personnel.
If the person to be posted outside is a senior official, he will be selected by the emperor himself, and the central government will also issue a document of appointment called "edict" to appoint and dispatch the official.
The officials who received the imperial edict would first report to the Honglu Temple, which would then arrange a time for them to meet the emperor. When the emperor met with the officials who were to be appointed, he would instruct and encourage them, and then they would take up their posts at the prescribed time.
A "FAT" like Sun Shan is not qualified to see the emperor, let alone be taught and encouraged.
The above is the prefix for Sun Shan to take up his post at the local level. Once he arrives at the local level, there are still many procedures to go through.
Daqian implemented a three-level administrative system of province, prefecture and county, with two direct-controlled areas, namely Jinling and Jingcheng, which were equivalent to municipalities directly under the central government.
When Sun Shan left the capital and took up a post in a local area, he needed to first report to the Provincial Administration Commission (the highest administrative body in a province, in charge of people's livelihood and finance. The chief officer is equivalent to the governor) and the Censorate (the highest court in a province, in charge of judicial and prison affairs. The chief officer is equivalent to the president of the court) of his province (Huguang, with Changsha as the provincial capital).
Receive instructions from the highest local official, receive relevant work documents, and get a stamped registration to prove that you have reported to the local authority.
After "going to the province to file a record", continue to "going to the prefecture to file a record"
After Sun Shan registered in Changsha Prefecture, he would continue to report to Chenzhou Prefecture. After verifying the documents and proving that Sun Shan was Sun Shan, he would need to meet with the prefect (equivalent to the mayor), listen to his instructions, and accept assessment.
The assessment here is not an assessment of political performance, but an assessment of policy questions.
Of course, the so-called assessment is just a formality. The prefect must be busy with hundreds of affairs every day, if not thousands of things. How could he conduct such a detailed assessment?
What if the new magistrate is a fool and can't answer the question, and everyone will be embarrassed.
When he arrives at the government office, there will be "new employee training", and Sun Shan will be asked to intern at the Ministry of Rites to learn how to be an official.
This step is not necessary. Specific issues should be analyzed specifically, depending on the situation in each prefecture.
Some responsible prefects will make arrangements for you, while some prefects who just want to get by will just let you sign your name and take office.
After reporting to the two-level administrative regions, Sun Shan was finally able to set off for his post - Yuanlu County.
Arriving at the jurisdiction after going through hardships does not mean that the official’s arrival procedures are completed.
On the contrary, once officials enter the country, their work has just begun.
After arriving in Yuanlu County, Sun Shan had to stay in the City God Temple outside the city for three days and fast.
By fasting and cleansing themselves, they expressed their reverence for the gods and their loyalty to the emperor.
During these three days, Sun Shan would send people into the city to inform local officials: The new parent official has gone outside the city to fast, you should quickly prepare for the sacrificial ceremony, welcome the parent official well, and hold a good banquet for the parent official. If you do not do it well and make the new parent official unhappy, you will bear the consequences.
After arranging the time for the sacrifice, the chief official of Yuanlu County led the officials of each department and the students to welcome Sun Shan, the fatherly official, into the city. Under the guidance of the elders, they paid homage to the shrine and performed sacrifices.
After the sacrifice, officials led them to the ceremonial gate.
After the new official Sun Shan got off his horse, he entered through the middle gate, went to the platform of the yamen, looked at the palace, walked to the incense table, bowed five times and kowtowed three times, which was a ceremony of thanking the emperor.
After the ceremony, the official can take his seat.
After all the ceremonies were over, Sun Shan toasted to the officials and elders, and then the officials left.
After that, he held a ceremony with his subordinate officials and Sun Shan officially became the magistrate of Yuanlu County.