vstars Chapter 496 The Bottom Line for Officials, The Theory of a Pure Minister
Chapter 496 The Bottom Line for Officials, The Theory of a Pure Minister
Chen Lin found an excuse to dismiss all the servants in the hall.
I also stand far away, only approaching when I need to refill my tea; otherwise, I remain invisible, blending into the air.
Today's lecture, whether by coincidence or not, happens to be somewhat related to the principles of officialdom.
I didn't talk much about Jiang Xiaoqi's part; the main purpose was to connect it to the following content.
However, the Second Prince had a lot of questions today, which made Jiang Xiaoqi spend more time here.
"Sir, what makes a good official?"
The second prince casually posed a question, which wasn't particularly profound and seemed like a casual inquiry.
"For an official, the most basic principle is to be loyal to the emperor and serve the country, and to bring benefits to the people."
Furthermore, one must uphold one's bottom line as a person and as an official, although this bottom line varies from person to person.
Some people think that doing their job well is enough to be a good official; some people think that not being corrupt or accepting bribes is enough to be a good official; and some people think that following the established procedures for performance evaluation and awards is enough to be a good official.
But some people feel that it is not enough to be rooted among the people, to devote one's heart and soul, and to dedicate one's life to the cause.
Whether something is good or bad is not up to one's own judgment, nor is it up to one person to decide; it must be judged by the people under one's rule.
Whether the people are well-fed and clothed or starving, whether they live in peace and prosperity or are poorly clothed, these things cannot be faked.
However, an official who can bring benefits to the people can basically be considered a good official.
People will remember officials like this for a very long time.
Whether the second prince understood or not, several images of good officials flashed through Jiang Xiaoqi's mind, but they were all from later generations.
An official who truly benefits countless people wherever he goes.
The Great Zhou should also have it, but he hasn't been sent out yet, so we can't contact him at the moment.
However, he did know a bit about those family members who served as county magistrates in other places.
Even though their ability to govern a region was somewhat weak, the Chiang family did not have officials who plundered the people and caused them to suffer.
Everyone is trying their best to be a good parent, even if it's their own troublesome father, who's just fishing all the time.
My father listened to both Master Qian and Master Xing, and there was never any trouble in Tongzhou.
My performance reviews have been above average for the past few years. Although there's no hope for promotion, I guess my father is quite content in his position at the Tongzhou County government office and doesn't want to move.
After listening, the Second Prince nodded emphatically, and Jiang Xiaoqi revealed a gentle smile.
The Second Prince, with his childlike mind, was surprisingly able to understand his long discourse, which surprised him greatly.
Alas, what a pity. The more I teach the Second Prince, the more I feel it's a pity.
If there had been a special medicine for fever when he was a child, this promising young man wouldn't have ended up like this.
He was originally the most qualified candidate to be the crown prince, but he missed out on that position.
The Second Prince glanced at the Prince of Xuan Nan, who was sitting and drinking tea, out of the corner of his eye, and asked a slightly more profound question.
"Sir, if treacherous officials are in power in the court, what should good officials do?"
Jiang Xiaoqi's eyes flashed; she was quite surprised to hear this question.
However, after pondering for a moment, he said, "If you encounter treacherous officials, you should stick to your principles and not go along with them."
If you can win, you should fight; if you can't win, you should still fight.
We are not fighting for power, but for the people of the world.
Saving millions of people from suffering is more important than possessing any power oneself.
However, only those who possess absolute power can truly save the people from suffering.
Having a voice is always important; if you stand too low, your voice will be hard to hear.
Only by standing at a high vantage point can one's words carry weight and avoid being drowned in the sea of power.
However, this refers to a time when treacherous officials are in power and the country is peaceful and prosperous; in such times, one only needs to be a loyal and honest minister who gets things done.
Don't let power blind you, don't let greed cloud your judgment, and stay true to your original aspirations.
After Jiang Xiaoqi finished speaking, Prince Xuan Nan finally put down his teacup and looked at the person in front of him again.
That night, during our conversation, I only gained a preliminary understanding and judgment of the other party, and found out that he was not an incompetent person.
Today's discourse on the principles of officialdom reminded the Prince of Xuan Nan of an old friend.
This young man has the air of an old friend!
A complex emotion flashed in the Prince of Xuan Nan's eyes. He sat up slightly and said:
"Sir's words remind me of an old friend of mine. He had the same temperament, but unfortunately he was too aloof and arrogant and refused to serve the Great Zhou."
He preferred to live a solitary, carefree life, far removed from court politics; he must have been utterly disillusioned with all those in power.
Jiang Xiaoqi bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Your Highness, your friend may not be disappointed; he may have his own pursuits."
After all, becoming an official in the imperial court is not the only answer in life. There is still much to be done in the vast world, including the stars, the sea, the rivers, and the mountains!
Your old friend may not have aspirations in the court, but rather in the beauty of nature.
"His ambition lies not in the court, but in the mountains and rivers?"
Haha, good! What a fine saying, "His ambitions lie not in the court, but in the mountains and rivers!"
"I wonder if Lord Jiang's ambition lies in the imperial court or in the beauty of nature?"
The Prince of Xuan Nan's question was a bit presumptuous. Jiang Xiaoqi was currently in the palace, serving as a sixth-rank compiler in the Hanlin Academy, tutoring the Second Prince, and also having to find time to investigate cases.
He's trying to be a part of a team all by himself. He longs to roam freely amidst nature, but he's already a court official.
"Your humble servant is determined to do every task well in the present moment, whether it is in the court or in the mountains and rivers."
"A person without goals is no different from a salted fish. Living in the present and doing one's duty well is my current aspiration."
"You're such a straightforward person, don't you think you're taking on a lot of responsibility?"
Hey hey hey! In front of the Second Prince, are we supposed to let Jiang Xiaoqi say that he doesn't want to be the Prince's tutor?
"Your Highness Xuan Nan is joking. There's a saying that goes, 'The capable are often given more work.' His Majesty thinks highly of me. These are many tasks that others would beg for."
Besides, I'm still young, so there's nothing wrong with doing more work. I can just consider it training and gaining experience.