It is natural for court officials to hold official positions, which was called "yamen" in the feudal dynasty of China, from the senior officials of the central ministries to the offices of local assistants. The "yamen" all face south, and officials at all levels sit facing south when they go to the hall to handle government affairs. Therefore, officials from ministries, hospitals, provinces, monasteries, and governors to officials at all levels in Sidao County are all called "South". County-level administrative agencies are literally called the main hall of the county, and are customarily called the county government or county hall. The chief executive is the county magistrate, commonly known as "uncle" or "county magistrate".
During the feudal period in China, the county-level government offices around the country were roughly like this. For example, during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, there were almost a hundred county offices. Yamou Gate in the county has one main entrance and two side doors, with high walls on both sides. On the day of announcement and trial, the main entrance is only opened when Shangguan or county officials are on patrol. Part of the door that normally enters. There is usually a watchtower on the gate, which is a place for vigil and patrol. On the west side of the gate is generally the Department of Literature and History, which is similar to the current Public Security Bureau and has become an independent place. Entering the front door is the first entrance of the county government, and there is the county hall. The lobby is the first building to enter. According to legend, in ancient times, big drums were erected on both sides for the people to beat drums and sing injustice. The lobby is not the place where a magistrate usually handles political affairs. Generally speaking, there are large-scale celebrations in China, as well as national funerals or ceremonies. When executing prisoners, there is also a public seat here to verify their identity and sign their names on the pen. On the east and west sides of the lobby are the offices of clerks (organizations), households (finance), soldiers (military), criminals (justice) and workers (construction, water conservancy). Soap class (black guards), fast class (catching criminals) and strong class (handyman) are also at this entrance. Collectively referred to as Class Three and Six Rooms. In addition, this place also has the setting of arrest hall, prison and detention center (a bit like the later waiting room).
From the lobby to the back, it is the second entrance of the county government, and to the east is the manuscript signing room, also called the flower room, which is the place where county officials sign and sign documents. On the west is the name of the criminal, and Qian Gu asked about it, which is where the curtain friend hired by the county magistrate works. In the middle of the second hall is the place where the county magistrate is promoted to the director of the hall, and the layout is also more serious. There is a patterned screen at the back, and a clean horizontal plaque is hung high in the hall. In front of the screen are high chairs and long tables, commonly known as "public seats". In the middle of the case, there is a big red and black inkstone, a tall pen and a big pen from Zhu Mo. Put a red and green standard tube in front, marked with the number of war responsibility. Put "avoidance" and "silence" signs on both sides of the ground, and then put bamboo boards, rulers, rattan, pliers (special instruments of torture for holding fingers), clips, hanging ropes, iron training ropes and other instruments of torture in front. The northwest corner of the second hall is the study room, which is used by county officials to receive visitors, or someone who intercedes and pays bribes will choose this secluded place. The last entrance of the county government is the residence of family members.
When the county magistrate hears a case, there will usually be a bookkeeper sitting at the table to record a confession. On both sides of the front of the chopping board, there will be two police officers who are only on duty in the lobby and are responsible for summoning criminals. Then let the officers standing alone with instruments of torture get off. The county magistrate questioned the original defendant and witness according to the cause of action. If the object of the trial is ordinary people, you must kneel down and answer. If you are a Guo Jian diploma or scholar, you must also kneel with your left leg to answer. No matter how famous, the object should bow and scrape, attend the court ceremony and stand and answer. During the trial, the county magistrate often slaps the table, scolds and insults the interrogated object, or disrespects the interrogated person, slaps his mouth, slaps his palm and pulls a crutch. Its feudal hierarchy is strict, and it is all in it.
Since the mid-Qing Dynasty, Qipin County had to spend two or three thousand taels of silver to buy it. If it is a backup, it has to be operated in large quantities, so that it is possible to fill the vacancy as soon as possible. Before going to work, all parties have to spend money, even if they have been trained, they can only be appointed by bribing the relevant parties. After taking office, it costs a lot to curry favor with the officials above and deal with people who have a windfall. If you simply rely on 62 1 year salary and a little money to support the elderly, it is simply a loss-making business. Therefore, if we want to return to the root, we must corrupt and take bribes and rob the local people of their money. Only in this way can we be promoted to a higher position. In order to "make big money", county officials usually bring their own confidants. The advantage is that their confidants generally don't betray themselves, and they can try their best to cover up their evil deeds. On the other hand, it is crucial for the county magistrate to help him solve what he can't talk about properly, such as asking for bribes to change his joints.
In the past, county officials had several ways to make money. First of all, the balance of grain, Ding Yin, disaster relief, water conservancy and other public welfare funds was deducted and exaggerated. There is also accepting bribes by handling civil and criminal cases. Therefore, before the new official took office, he hired Qian Gu, who was familiar with financial law and discipline, and two officials with a case name as the curtain guests to help the county official handle the documents, make suggestions for the county official, engage in graft, falsely report political achievements, bend the law to buy grievances, and embezzle public funds. As far as money and grain are concerned, in addition to collecting a large sum of money in normal regulations such as fire consumption and color discount, we must also play with various methods to achieve a win-win situation of fame and fortune. For example, in the past, when the local years were good, it was deliberately reported that the years were not good, but the grain collected by the state was turned over as a token of political achievements. At that time, the completion of food was the main criterion to test the performance of a local official. This is also like assessing the GDP of local officials in previous years. In the years of poor harvest or disaster, he publicly interceded for the people and showed off his achievements.
As the old saying goes, "One magistrate in three years is worth a hundred thousand snowflakes and silver", which is extremely fraudulent and corrupt, and extremely shady in yamen. Although some people in the imperial court from the emperor to the ministers advocated strictness, most of them failed. Take Yin Zhuangtu, a cabinet bachelor during the Qianlong period as an example. He hates official corruption, which leads to the situation that "the state treasury is empty and the private industry is dying" and exposes it, hoping to improve it. But I didn't expect to be with? The imperial court was jealous and sent Yin Zhuang to the local government to check the deficit of the national treasury. But the other faction sent a confidant to follow the surveillance, and Yin Zhuangtu went everywhere, and? Confidants always try their best not to let him check the library at once, and wait until the library is moved to full capacity. Therefore, the result is naturally no loss. Yin Zhuangtu was impeached and "demoted as a master" with "false words".