Volume 158 Treatises 111: Selection and appointment of Officials 4

選舉四〈（銓法上）〉

Selection and Appointment of Officials, Part Four (On the Appraisal Law, Part One)

太祖設官分職，多襲五代之製，稍損益之。凡入仕，有貢舉、奏蔭、攝署、流外、從軍五等。吏部銓惟注擬州縣官、幕職，兩京諸司六品以下官皆無選；文臣少卿、監以上中書主之，京朝官則審官院主之；武臣刺史、副率以上內職，樞密院主之，使臣則三班院主之。其後，典選之職分為四：文選曰審官東院，曰流內銓，武選曰審官西院，曰三班院。元豐定制而後，銓注之法，悉歸選部：以審官東院為尚書左選，流內銓為侍郎左選，審官西院為尚書右選，三班院為侍郎右選，於是吏部有四選之法。文臣寄祿官自朝議大夫、職事官自大理正以下，非中書省敕授者，歸尚書左選；武臣升朝官自皇城使、職事官自金吾階衛仗司以下，非樞密院宣授者，歸尚書右選；自初仕至州縣幕職官，歸侍郎左選；自借差、監當至供奉官、軍使，歸侍郎右選。凡應注擬、升移、敘復、蔭補、封贈、酬賞，隨所分隸校勘合格，團甲以上尚書省，若中散大夫、閣門使以上，則列選敘之狀上中書省、樞密院，得畫旨，給告身。

When Taizu established offices and apportioned duties, he largely followed the institutions of the Five Dynasties, modifying them only here and there. Entry into office fell into five routes: examination candidacy, hereditary privilege by memorial, provisional appointment, service outside the regular stream, and military service. The Ministry of Personnel's appraisal commission assigned only prefectural, county, and secretariat posts; for officials of the sixth rank and below in the two capitals and the various ministries, it exercised no selection authority; civil officials from vice director and commissioner upward were handled by the Secretariat, while capital officials fell to the Office for Review of Appointments; military officials from prefect and deputy commander-in-chief upward and inner-service posts were handled by the Bureau of Military Affairs, while envoy-officials were handled by the Third-Class Hall. Later the duties of managing selection were split four ways: civil selection went to the Eastern Hall of the Office for Review of Appointments and to the Within-the-Stream Selection; military selection went to the Western Hall of the Office for Review of Appointments and to the Third-Class Hall. After the Yuanfeng reforms fixed the institutions, appraisal and assignment were wholly reunited under the Selection Department: the Eastern Hall became the Ministry Director's Left Selection, the Within-the-Stream Selection the Vice Director's Left Selection, the Western Hall the Ministry Director's Right Selection, and the Third-Class Hall the Vice Director's Right Selection—giving the Ministry of Personnel its fourfold selection law. Civil honorary ranks from Court Gentleman for Discussion upward and substantive posts from Director of the Court of Judicial Review downward, when not granted by Secretariat edict, belonged to the Ministry Director's Left Selection; military officials in court audience from Imperial City Commissioner upward and substantive posts from the Jinwu Guard and Palace Arms Service downward, when not proclaimed and appointed by the Bureau of Military Affairs, belonged to the Ministry Director's Right Selection; from first appointment through prefectural and county staff posts, they belonged to the Vice Director's Left Selection; from temporary assignment and supervisory duty through palace attendant and army commissioner, they belonged to the Vice Director's Right Selection. All matters of assignment, promotion, reinstatement, yin supplementation, enfeoffment and posthumous honors, and reward required verification under the appropriate jurisdiction; registers were then submitted to the Ministry, while from Grandee of Palace Attendance and Gate Commissioner upward a selection-and-seniority memorial went to the Secretariat and Bureau of Military Affairs; only after marked imperial approval were appointment credentials issued.

凡選人階官為七等：其一曰三京府判官，留守判官，節度、觀察判官；〈（即後來承直郎。）〉其二曰節度掌書記，觀察支使，防禦、團練判官；〈（即後來儒林郎。）〉其三曰軍事判官，京府、留守、節度、觀察推官；〈（即後來文林郎。）〉其四曰防禦、團練、軍事推官，軍、監判官；〈（即後來從事郎。）〉其五曰縣令、錄事參軍；〈（即後來從政郎。）〉其六曰試銜縣令、知錄事；〈（即後來修職郎。）〉其七曰三京軍巡判官，司理、戶曹、司戶、法曹、司法參軍，主簿，縣尉。〈（即後來迪功郎。）〉七階選人須三任六考，用奏薦及功賞，乃得升改。

Candidates' ranked posts fell into seven grades. The first comprised judicial administrators of the three capital prefectures, judicial administrators of commissioners in residence, and judicial administrators of military and surveillance commissioners; (That is, later the rank of Chengzhilang, Court Gentleman for Direct Achievement.) the second comprised military commissioners' secretaries, surveillance commissioners' staff envoys, and judicial administrators of defense and training commissioners; (That is, later the rank of Rulinlang, Gentleman of the Forest of Scholars.) the third comprised military judicial administrators and investigating officials of the capital prefecture, commissioners in residence, military commissioners, and surveillance commissioners; (That is, later the rank of Wenlinlang, Gentleman of the Forest of Letters.) the fourth comprised investigating officials of defense, training, and military commissioners and judicial administrators of army and supervisory posts; (That is, later the rank of Congshilang, Gentleman for Attendant Service.) the fifth comprised county magistrates and recording secretaries; (That is, later the rank of Congzhenglang, Gentleman for Participation in Governance.) the sixth comprised county magistrates holding provisional titles and acting recording secretaries; (That is, later the rank of Xiuzhilang, Gentleman for Cultivation of Office.) the seventh comprised military patrol judicial administrators of the three capitals, judicial, household, registry, law, and judicial-review secretaries, chief clerks, and county vice magistrates. (That is, later the rank of Digonglang, Gentleman for Meritorious Achievement.) Candidates in the seven grades had to complete three terms and six performance reviews and secure memorial recommendations and merit rewards before they could be promoted.

凡改官，留守、兩府、兩使判官，進士授太常丞，〈（舊亦授正言、監察或太常博士，後多不除。）〉餘人太子中允；〈（舊亦授殿中丞。）〉支使，掌書記，防禦、團練判官，進士授太子中允，〈（或秘書郎。）〉餘人著作佐郎；兩使推官、軍事判官、令、錄事參軍，進士授著作佐郎，餘人大理寺丞；初等職官知縣，知錄事參軍，防禦、團練、軍事推官，軍、監判官，進士授大理寺丞，餘人衛尉寺丞；惟判、司、主簿、縣尉七考，進士授大理寺丞，餘人衛尉寺丞。自節、察判官至簿、尉，考不及格者遞降等。

On promotion to higher office: presented scholars who had served as judicial administrators of commissioners in residence, the two metropolitan prefectures, or the two commissioners received appointment as Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, (Formerly they might also receive Rectifier, Investigating Censor, or Erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, but later these posts were seldom filled.) while others received Vice Director in the Heir Apparent's Household; (Formerly they might also receive Vice Director of the Palace Domestic Service.) staff envoys, secretaries, and judicial administrators of defense and training commissioners: presented scholars received Vice Director in the Heir Apparent's Household, (or Secretary of the Palace Library.) while others received Assistant Editor in the Palace Library; investigating officials of the two commissioners, military judicial administrators, magistrates, and recording secretaries: presented scholars received Assistant Editor in the Palace Library, others Vice Director of the Court of Judicial Review; entry-level officials serving as county magistrates, acting recording secretaries, investigating officials of defense, training, and military commissioners, and judicial administrators of army and supervisory posts: presented scholars received Vice Director of the Court of Judicial Review, others Vice Director of the Court of the Imperial Stud; only judicial administrators, secretaries, chief clerks, and county vice magistrates with seven appraisals: presented scholars received Vice Director of the Court of Judicial Review, others Vice Director of the Court of the Imperial Stud. From military and surveillance judicial administrators down to clerks and vice magistrates, those who failed their appraisals were demoted one grade at a time.

凡非登科及特旨者，年二十五方注官。凡三班院，二十以上聽差使，初任皆監當，次任為監押、巡檢、知縣。凡流外人，三任七考，有舉者六員，移縣今、通判；有班行舉者三員，與磨勘。凡進納人，六考，有職官或縣令舉者四員，移注；四任十考，有改官者五人舉之，與磨勘。

Those who had not passed the examinations or received a special edict could not be assigned office until they were twenty-five. In the Third-Class Hall, men twenty and older could be sent on assignment; first appointments were always supervisory duty, second appointments supervisory custody, patrol inspection, or county magistrate. Outside-the-stream personnel, after three terms and seven appraisals with six recommenders, could be transferred to county magistrate or transit intendant; with three recommenders from the roster ranks, they received merit review. Those who entered by purchase, after six appraisals with four recommenders who were substantive officials or county magistrates, received transfer assignment; after four terms and ten appraisals, with five recommenders who had themselves been promoted, they received merit review.

初定四時參選之製：凡本屬發選解，並以四孟月十五日前達省，自千里至五千里外，為五等日期離本處；若違限及不如式，本判官罰五十直，錄事參軍、本曹官各殿一選；諸州四時具員闕報吏部，逾期及漏誤，判官罰七十直，錄事參軍以下殿一選；在京百司發選解及送闕，違期亦有罰；諸歸司官奏年滿，俟敕下，準格取本司文解赴集，流外銓則據其人自投狀申奏，亦依四時取解參選；凡州縣老疾不任事者，許判官、錄事參軍糾舉以聞，判官、錄事參軍則州長吏糾之。藩郡監牧，每遣朝臣攝守，往往專恣。太祖始削外權，命文臣往蒞之；由是內外所授官，多非本職，惟以差遣為資曆。

The four-season candidacy system was first established: selection memorials from the home jurisdiction had to reach the capital by the fifteenth of each first month of the season; departures from one's post were staggered in five grades from one thousand li to beyond five thousand li; if the deadline was missed or the form was incorrect, the local judicial administrator was fined fifty strings, and the recording secretary and bureau officials each suffered one demotion in the selection roster; prefectures each season submitted vacancy registers to the Ministry of Personnel; if these were overdue or contained omissions and errors, the judicial administrator was fined seventy strings and the recording secretary and subordinates suffered one demotion in the selection roster; capital ministries that issued selection memorials or transmitted vacancies were likewise penalized for lateness; officials returning to their home bureau reported when their term expired; after the edict issued, they took their bureau's release document to assemble for selection under the regulations; the outside-the-stream commission relied on the candidate's own petition and likewise followed the four-season schedule for release and candidacy; Prefectural and county officials who were aged, ill, or unfit for duty could be impeached and reported by judicial administrators and recording secretaries; judicial administrators and recording secretaries in turn were impeached by the prefectural chief. In frontier prefectures and pasture commissions, court officials were often sent as acting administrators, and they frequently acted with arbitrary authority. Taizu first curtailed the power of regional strongmen and ordered civil officials to take charge; thereafter appointments inside and outside the capital were often not to substantive posts, and seniority was reckoned chiefly by temporary assignment.

建隆四年，詔選朝士分治劇邑，以重其事。大理正奚嶼知館陶，監察御史王祐知魏，楊應夢知永濟，屯田員外郎於繼徽知臨清，常參官宰縣自此始。舊制，畿內縣赤，次赤，畿外三千戶以上為望，二千戶以上為緊，一千戶以上為上，五百戶以上為中，不滿五百戶為中下。有司請據諸道所具板圖之數，升降天下縣，以四千戶以上為望，三千戶以上為緊，二千戶以上為上，千戶以上為中，不滿千戶為中下。自是，注擬以為資敘。又詔：“周廣順中應出選門州縣官，於南曹投狀，準格敕考校無礙，與除官；其敘復者，刑部檢勘送銓。”

In the fourth year of Jianlong, an edict ordered court officials selected to govern demanding counties in rotation, thereby elevating the importance of the post. Director of the Court of Judicial Review Xi Yu was assigned to Guantao, Investigating Censor Wang You to Wei, Yang Yingmeng to Yongji, and Vice Director of the Field Cultivation Bureau Yu Jihui to Linqing—thus began the practice of regular-attendance officials serving as county magistrates. Under the old system, counties within the capital circuit were classified as red or next red; outside the circuit, counties of three thousand households or more were eminent, of two thousand or more pressing, of one thousand or more upper, of five hundred or more middle, and below five hundred lower-middle. The relevant offices requested that, on the basis of household figures from registers submitted by the circuits, counties throughout the realm be reclassified: four thousand households or more as eminent, three thousand or more as pressing, two thousand or more as upper, one thousand or more as middle, and below one thousand as lower-middle. Thereafter assignments were ordered with this classification as the basis for seniority. Another edict stated: "In the Guangshun era of Zhou, prefectural and county officials due to leave the selection process submitted petitions at the Southern Bureau; if examination under the regulations and edicts found no impediment, office was conferred; those seeking reinstatement were collated by the Ministry of Justice and sent to the selection commission."

先是，選格未備。乾德二年，命陶穀等議：

Previously the selection regulations were incomplete. In the second year of Qiande, Tao Gu and others were ordered to deliberate:

凡拔萃、製舉及進士、《九經》判中者，並入初等職官，判下者依常選。初入防禦團練軍事推官、軍事判官者，並授將仕郎，試校書郎。周三年得資，即入留守兩府節度推官、軍事判官，並授承奉郎，試大理評事。又周三年得資，即入掌書記、防禦團練判官，並授宣德郎，試大理評事兼監察御史。周二年得資，即入留守、兩府、節度、觀察判官，並授朝散大夫，試大理司直兼監察御史。周一年，入同類職事、諸府少尹。又周一年，送名中書門下，仍依官階，分為四等。已至兩使判官以上、次任入同類職事者，加檢校官或轉憲銜。凡觀察判官以上，緋十五年乃賜紫。每任以周三年為限，閏月不預，每周一年，校成一考。其常考，依令錄例，書“中”、“上”；公事闕遺、曾經殿罰者，即降考一等；若校成殊考，則南曹具功績，請行酬獎；或考滿末代，更一周年與成第四考，隨有罷者不赴集；其奏授職事，書校考第，並準新格參選。

All who passed the Exceptional Promotion, Decree Examination, and Presented Scholar examinations and achieved a middle grade on the Nine Classics judgment entered entry-level office; those at the lower grade followed regular selection. Those first appointed investigating officials of defense, training, and military commissioners or military judicial administrators all received Gentleman for Initial Service and were tried out as Secretary of the Palace Library. After a full three years' seniority they advanced to investigating officials of commissioners in residence, the two metropolitan prefectures, and military commissioners, or to military judicial administrators, receiving Gentleman for Court Service and a trial appointment as Evaluator in the Court of Judicial Review. After another full three years' seniority they advanced to secretaries and judicial administrators of defense and training commissioners, receiving Gentleman for Promoting Virtue and a trial appointment as Evaluator in the Court of Judicial Review concurrent with Investigating Censor. After a full two years' seniority they advanced to judicial administrators of commissioners in residence, the two metropolitan prefectures, military commissioners, and surveillance commissioners, receiving Grandee for Court Assembly and a trial appointment as Directing Judge in the Court of Judicial Review concurrent with Investigating Censor. After one full year they advanced to similar substantive posts and junior administrators of the various prefectures. After another full year their names were sent to the Secretariat and Chancellery and, according to official grade, divided into four ranks. Those who had already reached judicial administrators of the two commissioners and above, on entering similar substantive posts in the next term, received added provisional titles or transfer to censorial ranks. Surveillance judicial administrators and above wore crimson for fifteen years before being granted purple. Each term was limited to a full three years, intercalary months excluded; each full year completed one performance review. Regular appraisals, following the precedent for magistrates and recording secretaries, were recorded as "middle" or "upper"; if public business was neglected or they had once been demoted in the selection roster, the appraisal was lowered one grade; if an outstanding appraisal was completed, the Southern Bureau prepared a record of achievements and requested reward; or if a term ended before a successor arrived, after one more full year a fourth appraisal was completed; those dismissed did not assemble for selection; for memorial-appointed substantive posts, appraisal grades were recorded, and all followed the new regulations for candidacy.

自是銓法漸有倫矣。帝又慮銓曹惟用資曆，而才傑或湛滯，乃詔吏部取赴集選人曆任課績多而無闕失、其材可副升擢者，送中書引驗以聞。時仕者愈眾，頗委積不可遣。

From this point the appraisal regulations gradually acquired systematic order. The Emperor also feared that the selection office relied solely on seniority while talented men languished in obscurity; he therefore ordered the Ministry of Personnel to identify candidates assembling for selection whose successive terms showed many appraisals without fault and whose ability warranted promotion, and send them to the Secretariat for verification and report. By then officeholders had grown so numerous that the backlog could not be cleared.

開寶初，令選人應格者，到京即赴集，不必限四時；及成甲次，又給限：南曹八日，銓司旬有五日，門下省七日，自磨勘、注擬及點檢謝詞，總毋逾一月。若別論課績，或負過名須考驗，行遣如法；及資考未合注擬者，不在此限。

At the beginning of Kaibao, qualified candidates were ordered to assemble as soon as they reached the capital, without waiting for the four seasonal rounds; once the register order was formed, time limits were set: eight days for the Southern Bureau, fifteen for the selection office, seven for the Chancellery—from merit review and assignment through inspection of the thanks-for-appointment address, the whole process was not to exceed one month. if merit was separately assessed or a record of fault required verification, dispatch proceeded according to law; those whose seniority and appraisals did not yet qualify for assignment were not subject to this limit.

三年，詔曰：“吏多難以求其治，祿薄末可責其廉，與其冗員重費，不若省官益奉。州縣官宜以戶口為率，差減其員，舊奉月增給五千。西川管內諸州，凡二萬戶，依舊設曹官三員；戶不滿二萬，置錄事參軍、司法參軍各一員，司法兼司戶；不滿萬戶，止置司法、司戶，司戶兼錄事參軍；戶不滿五千，止置司戶，兼司法及錄事參軍。縣千戶以上，依舊置令、尉、主簿凡三員；戶不滿千，置令、尉，縣令兼主簿事；戶不滿四百，止置主簿、尉，以主簿兼知縣事；戶不滿二百，止置主簿，兼令、尉。 ”諸道減員亦仿此製。西川官考滿得代，更不守選。

In the third year, an edict stated: "When officials are too numerous, good governance is hard to achieve; when salaries are too thin, integrity cannot be demanded. Rather than maintain a redundant staff at heavy expense, it is better to reduce posts and increase salaries. Prefectural and county posts should be reduced in proportion to household population, and former monthly salaries increased by five thousand cash. For prefectures within Xichuan circuit with twenty thousand households, the former complement of three bureau officials was retained; where households fell short of twenty thousand, one recording secretary and one judicial-review secretary were appointed, with the judicial-review secretary also serving as registry secretary; where households fell short of ten thousand, only judicial-review and registry secretaries were appointed, with the registry secretary also serving as recording secretary; where households fell short of five thousand, only a registry secretary was appointed, who also served as judicial-review and recording secretary. for counties of one thousand households or more, the former three posts of magistrate, vice magistrate, and chief clerk were retained; where households fell short of one thousand, a magistrate and vice magistrate were appointed, with the county magistrate also handling chief clerk duties; where households fell short of four hundred, only a chief clerk and vice magistrate were appointed, with the chief clerk also serving as acting county magistrate; where households fell short of two hundred, only a chief clerk was appointed, who also served as magistrate and vice magistrate. "Staff reductions in the other circuits likewise followed this system. Xichuan officials who completed their term appraisals and were replaced no longer had to wait for selection.

嶺表初平，上以其民久困苛政，思惠養之。令吏部銓自襄、荊以南州縣，選見任年未五十者，移為嶺南諸州通判，得攜族之官。以廣南偽署官送學士院試書判，稍優則授上佐、令、錄、簿、尉。初，州縣有闕員，差前資官承攝；帝以其紊常製，令所在即上闕員，有司除注。又謂：“諸道攝官或著吏能，悉令罷去，良可惜也。有司按其曆任，三攝無曠敗者以名聞。”

When Lingnan was first pacified, the Emperor, seeing that its people had long suffered under harsh government, wished to nurture them with benevolent care. He ordered the Ministry of Personnel to select prefectural and county officials from south of Xiang and Jing, choose incumbents under fifty years of age, transfer them to transit intendant posts in the Lingnan prefectures, and permit them to bring their families to office. Former officials of the southern Guang regime were sent to the Academy of Scholarly Worthies for document-judgment examination; those who performed somewhat better were appointed chief administrators, magistrates, recording secretaries, chief clerks, or vice magistrates. Initially, when prefectures and counties had vacancies, officials with prior service records were dispatched to fill them provisionally; The Emperor, seeing that this disrupted the regular system, ordered each locality to report vacancies at once so that the responsible offices could appoint replacements. He also said: "Provisional officials in the various circuits who have shown real administrative ability are all being dismissed—that is truly a waste. Let the responsible offices review their successive service records and report by name those who served three provisional terms without absence or failure.

六年，從流內銓之請，復四時選，而引對者每季一時引對之。時國家取荊、衡，克梁、益，下交、廣，辟土既遠，吏多闕，是以歲常放選。選人南曹投狀，判成送銓，依次注擬。其後選部闕官，即特詔免解，非時赴集，謂之“放選”，習以為常，而取解季集之製漸廢。是冬，乃命參知政事盧多遜等，以見行《長定》、《循資格》及泛降制書，乃正違異，削去重復，補其闕漏，參校詳議，取悠久可用者，為書上之，頒為永式，而銓綜之職益有敘矣。

In the sixth year, at the request of the Within-the-Stream Selection, the four-season selection was restored, and those called for audience received audience once each season. At the time the state had taken Jing and Heng, conquered Liang and Yi, and subdued Jiao and Guang; with territory extending far, many posts stood vacant, and so selection was regularly opened each year. Candidates submitted petitions to the Southern Bureau; once judgments were completed, they were sent to the selection commission, which drew up assignments in order. Thereafter, when the Selection Department had vacant posts, special edicts exempted candidates from waiting and allowed out-of-season assembly—called "open selection"—which became customary, while the system of obtaining qualification and seasonal assembly gradually fell into disuse. That winter, Vice Grand Councilor Lu Duosun and others were ordered to use the current Long-Term Regulations, Seniority Regulations, and broadly issued edicts to rectify discrepancies, eliminate duplication, fill gaps, compare and deliberate in detail, select provisions of lasting use, compile them into a book and submit it, and promulgate it as permanent regulations—whereupon the duties of comprehensive appraisal gained greater order.

先是，選人試判三道，其二全通而文翰俱優為上，一道全通而文翰稍堪為中，三道俱不通為下。判上者職事官加一階，州縣官超一資，判中依資，判下入同類，惟黃衣人降一資。至是，增為四等，三道全次、文翰無取者為中下，用舊判下格；全不通而文翰又紕繆為下，殿一選。

Previously, candidates were tested with three document judgments: if two were wholly passed with both literary composition excellent, that counted as upper grade; if one was wholly passed with literary composition slightly adequate, middle grade; if all three failed, lower grade. Upper judgment: substantive officials advanced one rank; prefectural and county officials skipped one seniority grade; middle judgment followed seniority; lower judgment entered with peers; only yellow-robed candidates were reduced one grade. At this point the grades were increased to four: all three wholly passed but with unremarkable literary composition counted as lower-middle, using the old lower-judgment rule; complete failure with flawed literary composition counted as lower grade, with one demotion in the selection roster.

太平興國六年，詔京朝官除兩省、御史台，自少卿、監以下，奉使從政於外受代而歸者，令中書舍人郭贄、膳部郎中兼侍御史知雜事滕中正、戶部郎中雷德驤同考校勞績，論量器材，以中書所下闕員擬定，引對以遣，謂之差遣院。蓋前代朝官，自一品以下皆曰常參官，其未常參者曰未常參官；宋目常參者曰朝官，秘書郎而下未常參者曰京官。舊制，京朝官有員數，除授皆云替某官，或云填見闕。京官皆屬吏部，每任滿三十月，罷任，則歲校其考第，取解赴集。太祖以來，凡權知諸州，若通判，若監臨物務官，無定員。月限既滿，有司住給奉料，而見厘務者牒有司復文，所厘務罷則已。但不常參，注授皆出中書，不復由吏部。至是，與朝官悉差遣院主之。凡吏部黃衣選人，始許改為白衣選人。

In the sixth year of Taiping Xingguo, an edict ordered that capital officials—except those in the two Secretariats and the Censorate—from Vice Director and Commissioner downward who had served missions or held outside posts and returned after replacement were to have their service merit jointly appraised by Secretariat Drafter Guo Zan, Bureau of Rites Director and Concurrent Supervisory Censor with Mixed Affairs Teng Zhongzheng, and Bureau of Revenue Director Lei Dexiang; their talents were to be weighed, vacancies issued by the Secretariat used to draw up assignments, and after audience they were dispatched—this was called the Assignment Hall. In former dynasties, court officials from first rank downward were called regular-attendance officials; those not in regular attendance were called non-regular-attendance officials; Under the Song designation, those in regular attendance were called court officials; those from Secretariat Director downward who did not regularly attend were called capital officials. Under the old system, capital officials had fixed quotas; appointments were phrased as "replacing so-and-so's post" or "filling a current vacancy." Capital officials all belonged to the Ministry of Personnel; after each thirty-month term, upon leaving office they had annual appraisal grades reviewed, obtained qualification, and assembled for selection. Since Taizu, all who temporarily served as prefectural administrators, transit intendants, or supervisors of material affairs had no fixed quotas. When the monthly term expired, the responsible office stopped salary payment; those still conducting affairs sent documents to the office for reinstatement, which ceased when the affair ended. But because they did not regularly attend court, appointments and assignments all came from the Secretariat and no longer passed through the Ministry of Personnel. At this point, they and court officials were all handled by the Assignment Hall. All yellow-robed Ministry of Personnel candidates were first permitted to become white-robed candidates.

太宗選用庶僚，皆得引對，觀其敷納可采者超擢之。復慮因緣矯飾，徼幸冒進，乃詔：“應臨軒所選官吏，並送中書門下，考其履曆，審取進止。 ”舊制，州縣官南曹判成，流內銓注擬，其職事官中書除授。然而曆任功過，須經南曹考驗，遂令幕府官罷任，並歸銓曹，其特除拜者聽朝旨。又詔：“獄官關係尤重，新及第人為司理參軍，固未精習，令長吏察視，不勝任者，奏，判、司、簿、尉對易其官。”

In selecting subordinate officials, Taizong always granted them audience and exceptionally promoted those whose responses were worth taking. He again feared that connections and artifice might enable lucky advancement, and therefore decreed: "All officials selected at the imperial audience are to be sent to the Secretariat-Chancellery to have their service records examined and advancement or rejection determined. " Under the old system, prefectural and county officials had judgments completed by the Southern Bureau and assignments drawn up by the Within-the-Stream Selection; substantive officials were appointed by the Secretariat. However, merits and faults in successive terms had to pass Southern Bureau verification; therefore officials leaving secretariat posts were all sent to the selection bureau, while those specially appointed followed court edict. Another edict stated: "Prison officials are especially important; newly passed examination graduates serving as judicial secretaries are naturally not fully practiced—let superior officials inspect them; those found incompetent are to be memorialized, and judicial administrators, secretaries, chief clerks, and vice magistrates are to exchange posts.

淳化四年，選人以南郊赦免選，悉集京師。帝曰：“並放選，則負罪者幸矣，無罪者何以勸？ ”乃令經停殿者守常選。又詔：“司理、司法參軍在任有犯，遇赦及書下考者，止與免選，更勿超資。 ”工部郎中張知白上言：“唐李嶠嚐云：‘安人之方，須擇郡守。朝廷重內官，輕外任，望於台閣選賢良分典大州，共康庶績。 ’鳳閣待郎韋嗣立因而請行，遂以本官出領郡。今江、浙州郡，方切擇人，臣雖不肖，願繼前脩。 ”帝曰：“知白請重親民之官，良可嘉也。 ”然不允其請。

In the fourth year of Chunhua, candidates were exempted from selection waiting by the Southern Suburbs amnesty and all assembled at the capital. The Emperor said: "If all are granted open selection, the guilty are fortunate—how are the innocent to be encouraged? " He therefore ordered those who had suffered demotion in selection to observe regular waiting for selection. Another edict stated: "Judicial and judicial-review secretaries who commit offenses while in office, if they encounter amnesty or receive written poor appraisals, are granted only exemption from selection and no longer exceptional advancement in seniority. " Bureau of Works Director Zhang Zhibai memorialized: "Tang minister Li Jiao once said: 'The method of bringing peace to the people lies in selecting prefectural administrators. The court esteems inner-circuit officials and undervalues outside appointments; I hope worthy men will be chosen from the halls and pavilions to share in governing great prefectures and together bring prosperity. ' Vice Director of the Phoenix Pavilion Wei Sili then requested to act on this and went out to head a prefecture in his original rank. Now the Jiang and Zhe prefectures and commanderies urgently need men of quality; though I am unworthy, I wish to follow this former example. " The Emperor said: "Zhibai's request to give weight to posts close to the people is truly commendable. " Yet his request was not granted.

淳化以前，資敘未一，及是始定遷秩之製：凡製舉、進士、《九經》出身者，校書郎、正字、寺監主簿、助教並轉大理評事，評事轉本寺丞，任太祝、奉禮郎者轉諸寺監丞，諸寺監丞轉著作佐郎，或特遷太子中允、秘書郎；由大理寺丞轉殿中丞，由著作佐郎轉秘書監丞，資淺者或著作郎，優遷者為太常丞；由太子中允、秘書郎轉太常丞，三丞、著作皆遷太常博士，轉屯田員外郎，優者為禮部、工部、祠部、主客；由屯田轉都官，優者為戶部、刑部、度支、金部；由都官轉職方，優者為吏部、兵部、司封、司勳；其轉郎中亦如之。左右司員外郎，太平興國中有之，後罕除者。左右司郎中，惟待制以上當為少卿者即為之。由前行郎中轉太常少卿、秘書少監，由此二官轉右諫議大夫或秘書監、光祿卿；諫議轉給事中，資淺者或右轉左；給事中轉工部、禮部侍郎，至兵部、吏部轉左右丞，由左右丞轉尚書。自侍郎以上，或曆曹，或超曹，皆係特旨。

Before Chunhua, seniority was not uniform; at this point the system for rank advancement was first fixed: Decree Examination, Presented Scholar, and 《Nine Classics》 graduates moved from proofreader, collator, directorate and commission chief clerk, and assistant instructor to Grand Court Assessor; assessor to vice director of the same directorate; court invocator or ceremony attendant to vice director of various directorates and commissions; those vice directors to Assistant Editor in the Palace Library, or were exceptionally promoted to Vice Director in the Heir Apparent's Household or Secretary of the Palace Library; from Vice Director of the Court of Judicial Review to Vice Director of the Palace Domestic Service; from Assistant Editor to Vice Director of the Palace Library Directorate; those of shallow seniority might become Editor in the Palace Library, while those exceptionally advanced became Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices; from Vice Director in the Heir Apparent's Household or Secretary of the Palace Library to Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices; the three vice directors and editors all advanced to Court Scholar of Imperial Sacrifices, then to Vice Director of the Bureau of State Farms; the superior to the Ministries of Rites, Works, Ancestral Temples, or Foreign Guests; from State Farms to Capital Crimes; the superior to the Ministries of Revenue, Punishments, Budget, or Treasury; from Capital Crimes to Bureau of Offices; the superior to the Ministries of Personnel, War, Seals, or Merits; Promotion to director followed the same pattern. Left and Right Department Vice Directors existed in the Taiping Xingguo era; later they were rarely appointed. Left and Right Department Directors were held only by draft attendant-compilers and above who were due to become vice directors. from front-rank directors to Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices or Vice Director of the Palace Library Directorate; from these two posts to Right Remonstrance and Reviser, Director of the Palace Library, or Director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments; Remonstrance and Reviser transferred to Drafting Attendant; those of shallow seniority might move from right to left; Drafting Attendant transferred to Vice Minister of Works or Rites; reaching the Ministries of War or Personnel, one transferred to Left or Right Vice Director; from Left or Right Vice Director to Minister. From Vice Minister upward, whether passing through bureaus or skipping bureaus, all depended on special edict.

諸科及無出身者，校書郎、正字、寺監主簿、助教並轉太祝、奉禮郎，太祝、奉禮郎轉大理評事，評事轉諸寺監丞，諸寺監丞轉大理寺丞，大理寺丞轉中舍，優者為左右讚善，資淺者為洗馬。由幕職為著作佐郎者轉太子中允。由中允、讚善、中舍、洗馬皆轉殿中丞，殿中丞轉國子博士，〈（舊除《五經》者，至《春秋》博士則轉國子博士，後罕除。）〉由國子博士轉虞部員外郎，優者為膳部；由虞部轉比部，優者為倉部；由比部轉駕部，優者為考功；或由水部轉司門，司門轉庫部；為郎中亦如之。至前行郎中轉少卿、監，或一轉，或二三轉，即為諸寺大卿、監，自大卿、監特恩獎擢，或入給諫焉。

Miscellaneous examination and non-graduate candidates moved from proofreader, collator, directorate and commission chief clerk, and assistant instructor to court invocator or ceremony attendant; court invocator or ceremony attendant to Grand Court Assessor; assessor to vice director of various directorates and commissions; those vice directors to Vice Director of the Court of Judicial Review; Vice Director of the Court of Judicial Review to Central Secretariat Drafter; the superior to Left or Right Tutor; those of shallow seniority to Groom-in-Waiting. Those who entered as secretariat staff and became Assistant Editor transferred to Vice Director in the Heir Apparent's Household. from Vice Director in the Heir Apparent's Household, Tutor, Central Secretariat Drafter, or Groom-in-Waiting all transferred to Vice Director of the Palace Domestic Service; Vice Director of the Palace Domestic Service transferred to Court Scholar of the National University, (Formerly those appointed through the 《Five Classics》, upon reaching Court Scholar of the 《Spring and Autumn Annals》 transferred to Court Scholar of the National University; later such appointments were rare.) from Court Scholar of the National University to Vice Director of the Bureau of Parks and Forests; the superior to the Bureau of Provisions; from Parks and Forests to Comparison; the superior to Granaries; from Comparison to Transport; the superior to Merits; or from Waterways to Gatekeeping; Gatekeeping to Storehouses; Promotion to director followed the same pattern. Upon reaching front-rank director, one transferred to vice director or commissioner; after one, two, or three transfers, one became grand director or commissioner of the various directorates; from grand director or commissioner, by special grace one might be rewarded and promoted, or enter drafting and remonstrance.

其為台省官，則正言、監察比太常博士，殿中、司諫比後行員外郎，起居、侍御史比中行員外郎；起居轉兵部、吏部員外郎，侍御史轉職方員外郎，優者為兵部、司封、知制誥；由正言以上至郎中，皆敘遷兩資，中行郎中為左右司郎中，若非次酬勞，有遷三資或止一資者；至左右司郎中為知制誥若翰林學士者，遷中書舍人，〈（舊亦有自前行郎中除者，後兵、吏部止遷諫議。）〉由中書舍人轉禮部以上侍郎，入丞、郎即越一資以上。〈（內職、學士、待制亦如之。）〉御史中丞由諫議轉者遷工部侍郎，由給事轉者遷禮部侍郎，由丞、郎改者約本資焉。

For Censorate and Secretariat officials: Rectifier and Investigating Censor were comparable to Court Scholar of Imperial Sacrifices; Palace and Remonstrance and Reviser were comparable to rear-rank vice director; Diarist and Attending Censor were comparable to middle-rank vice director; Diarist transferred to Vice Director of the Ministries of War or Personnel; Attending Censor to Vice Director of the Bureau of Offices; the superior to Ministries of War, Seals, or Drafting Attendant for Edicts; from Rectifier upward to director, all advanced by regular promotion of two grades; middle-rank directors became Left and Right Department Directors; if rewarded out of turn, some advanced three grades or only one; when Left and Right Department Directors served as Drafting Attendant for Edicts or Hanlin Academician, they transferred to Secretariat Drafter, (Formerly some were also appointed directly from front-rank directors; later the Ministries of War and Personnel promoted only to Remonstrance and Reviser.) from Secretariat Drafter to Vice Minister of Rites and above; entering vice director or director skipped one grade or more. (Inner-circuit posts, academicians, and draft attendant-compilers followed the same rule.) Vice Censor-in-Chief transferred from Remonstrance and Reviser advanced to Vice Minister of Works; from Drafting Attendant to Vice Minister of Rites; those changed from vice director or director approximated their original seniority.

其學官，司業視少卿，祭酒視大卿。其法官，大理正視中允、讚善。凡正言、監察以上，皆特恩或被舉方除。其任館閣、三司、王府職事，開封府判官、推官，江淮發運、諸路轉運使、提點刑獄，皆得優遷，或以勤效特獎者亦如之。兩製、龍圖閣、三館皆不帶御史台官，樞密直學士、三司副使皆不帶御史台官及兩省官，待制以上不帶少卿、監。

For academic officials, Vice Rector was comparable to vice director; Rector to grand director. For judicial officials, Director of the Court of Judicial Review was comparable to Vice Director in the Heir Apparent's Household or Tutor. All Rectifier and Investigating Censor and above were appointed only by special grace or recommendation. Those serving in the Hall of Literature, the Three Fiscal Commissions, princely household substantive posts, judicial administrators and investigating officials of Kaifeng Prefecture, Yangzi-Huai transport commissioners, circuit transport commissioners, and judicial intendant commissioners all received preferential advancement; those specially rewarded for diligent achievement likewise. Drafters of both Secretariats, Dragon Diagram Hall, and the Three Institutes did not carry concurrent Censorate posts; Privy Council Direct Academicians and Vice Commissioners of the Three Fiscal Commissions did not carry concurrent Censorate or Secretariat posts; draft attendant-compilers and above did not carry concurrent vice director or commissioner posts.

其內職，自借職以上皆循資而遷，至東頭供奉官者轉閣門祗候，閣門祗候轉內殿崇班，崇班轉承製，承製轉諸司副使，自副使以上，或一資，或五資、七資，或直為正使者，至正使亦如之。至皇城使者轉昭宣使，昭宣使轉宣慶使，宣慶使轉景福殿使。其閣門祗候，特恩轉通事舍人，通事舍人轉西上閣門副使，亦有加諸司副使兼通事者；西上閣門副使轉東上，東上轉引進，引進轉客省，客省轉西上閣門使；自此以上，亦如副使之遷，惟至東上者又轉四方館使。客省使轉內客省使，內客省使轉宣徽使，或出為觀察使。自內客省使以上，非特恩不授。

For inner-service posts, from provisional rank upward all advanced by seniority; upon reaching Eastern Hall Attendant Officer one transferred to Gatehouse Usher; Gatehouse Usher to Inner Hall Honored Corps; Honored Corps to Draft Artisan; Draft Artisan to Vice Commissioner of Various Offices; from Vice Commissioner upward, one might advance one grade, or five or seven grades, or directly become full commissioner; reaching full commissioner followed the same pattern. Upon reaching Imperial City Commissioner one transferred to Commissioner for Brilliant Proclamation; Commissioner for Brilliant Proclamation to Commissioner for Proclaiming Celebration; Commissioner for Proclaiming Celebration to Commissioner of the Hall of Glorious Blessings. For Gatehouse Ushers, by special grace one transferred to Herald Master of Ceremonies; Herald Master of Ceremonies to Western Upper Gatehouse Vice Commissioner; some also received concurrent Vice Commissioner of Various Offices with Herald duties; Western Upper Gatehouse Vice Commissioner transferred to Eastern Upper; Eastern Upper to Commissioner for Introducing Tribute; Introducing Tribute to Guest Reception; Guest Reception to Western Upper Gatehouse Commissioner; From this point upward, advancement likewise followed the Vice Commissioner's pattern; only upon reaching Eastern Upper did one also transfer to Commissioner of the Four Directions Hall. Guest Reception Commissioner transferred to Inner Guest Reception Commissioner; Inner Guest Reception Commissioner to Commissioner of the Bureau of Palace Attendants; or one went out as observation commissioner. From Inner Guest Reception Commissioner upward, none were appointed except by special grace.

武班副率以上至上將軍，其遷曆軍衛如諸司使副焉。由牧伯內職改授，則觀察使以上為上將軍，團練使、閣門使以上為大將軍，刺史、諸司使至崇班為將軍，閣門祗候、供奉官為率，殿直以上為副率。

From Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Military Class upward to General-in-Chief, advancement through the guard commands followed the pattern of vice and full commissioners of various offices. When changed from regional governor or inner-service post, observation commissioner and above became General-in-Chief; training commissioner or gatehouse commissioner and above became Grand General; prefect or commissioner of various offices down to Honored Corps became General; Gatehouse Usher or Attendant Officer became Commander-in-Chief; Palace Attendant and above became Deputy Commander-in-Chief.

內侍省、入內內侍省，自小黃門至內供奉官，皆曆級而轉，至內東頭供奉官轉內殿崇班，有轉內侍、常侍者，內常侍亦正轉崇班。

In the Palace Attendant Service and the Inner Palace Attendant Service, from Junior Yellow Gate Attendant through Inner Attendant Officer, all advanced by successive grades. Upon reaching Inner Eastern Hall Attendant Officer one transferred to Inner Hall Honored Corps; those who became Palace Attendants or Regular Attendants likewise advanced directly to Honored Corps.

其銓選之製：兩府司錄，次赤令，留守、兩府、節度、觀察判官，少尹，一選；兩府判、司，兩畿令，掌書記，支使，防禦、團練判官，二選；諸府司、錄，次畿令，四赤簿、尉，軍事判官，留守、兩府、節度、觀察、防禦、團練軍事推官，軍、監判官，進士、製舉，三選；諸府司理、判、司，望縣令，《九經》，四選；輔州、大都督府司理、判、司，緊上州錄事參軍，緊上縣令，次赤兩畿簿、尉，《五經》、《三禮》、《三傳》、《三史》、《通禮》、明法，五選；雄望州司理、判、司，中州錄事參軍，中縣令，次畿簿、尉，六選；緊上州司理、判、司，下州、中下州錄事參軍，中下縣、下縣令，緊望縣簿、尉，學究，七選；中州中下州司理、判、司，上縣簿、尉，八選；下州司理、判、司，中縣簿、尉，九選；中下縣下縣簿、尉，十選。太廟齋郎、室長通理九年，郊社齋郎、掌坐通理十一年。

The selection system worked as follows: recording secretaries of the two metropolitan prefectures, secondary capital county magistrates, and judicial administrators of commissioners in residence, the two metropolitan prefectures, military commissioners, and surveillance commissioners, as well as Vice Prefects, required one selection round; judicial administrators and section officers of the two metropolitan prefectures, capital-district county magistrates, secretarial recorders, staff envoys, and judicial administrators of defense and training commissioners required two selection rounds; section officers and recording secretaries of various prefectures, secondary capital-district county magistrates, registrars and vice magistrates of the four secondary capitals, military judicial administrators, investigating officials of commissioners in residence, the two metropolitan prefectures, military and surveillance commissioners, defense and training commissioners, and judicial administrators of army and supervisory posts, together with presented scholars and special-examination graduates, required three selection rounds; judicial affairs administrators, judicial administrators, and section officers of various prefectures, upper-tier county magistrates, and examinees of the 《Nine Classics》, required four selection rounds; judicial affairs administrators, judicial administrators, and section officers of auxiliary prefectures and great protectorate prefectures, recording secretaries of highest tight-rank prefectures, magistrates of highest tight-rank counties, registrars and vice magistrates of secondary capitals and the two capital districts, and examinees of the 《Five Classics》, 《Three Rites》, 《Three Commentaries》, 《Three Histories》, 《Comprehensive Rites》, and legal code required five selection rounds; judicial affairs administrators, judicial administrators, and section officers of grand upper-tier prefectures, recording secretaries of middle-rank prefectures, middle-rank county magistrates, and secondary capital-district registrars and vice magistrates required six selection rounds; judicial affairs administrators, judicial administrators, and section officers of highest tight-rank prefectures, recording secretaries of lower and lower-middle prefectures, magistrates of lower-middle and lower counties, registrars and vice magistrates of tight upper-tier counties, and classicists required seven selection rounds; judicial affairs administrators, judicial administrators, and section officers of middle and lower-middle prefectures, and registrars and vice magistrates of upper counties, required eight selection rounds; judicial affairs administrators, judicial administrators, and section officers of lower prefectures, and registrars and vice magistrates of middle counties, required nine selection rounds; registrars and vice magistrates of lower-middle and lower counties required ten selection rounds. Temple of Ancestors Acolytes and chamber chiefs counted their service together as nine years; Suburban Sacrifice Acolytes and seat attendants counted together as eleven years.

凡入官，則進士入望州判司、次畿簿尉，《九經》入緊州判司、望縣簿尉，《五經》、《三禮》、《通禮》、《三傳》、《三史》、明法入上州判司、緊縣簿尉，學究有出身人入中州判司、上縣簿尉，太廟齋郎入中下州判司、中縣簿尉，郊社齋郎、試銜無出身人入下州判司、中下縣簿尉，諸司入流人入下州判司、下縣簿尉。

On first entering office, presented scholars were assigned as judicial administrators and section officers in upper-tier prefectures or as registrars and vice magistrates in secondary capital districts. Examinees of the 《Nine Classics》 took judicial administrator and section officer posts in tight-rank prefectures or registrar and vice magistrate posts in upper-tier counties. Examinees of the 《Five Classics》, 《Three Rites》, 《Comprehensive Rites》, 《Three Commentaries》, 《Three Histories》, and legal code took posts in upper-rank prefectures or tight-rank counties. Classicists with examination standing went to middle-rank prefectures or upper counties. Temple of Ancestors Acolytes went to lower-middle prefectures or middle counties. Suburban Sacrifice Acolytes and holders of provisional titles without examination standing went to lower prefectures or lower-middle counties. Entrants to the regular stream from various offices went to lower prefectures or lower counties.

仁宗初，吏員猶簡，吏部奏天下幕職、州縣官期滿無代者八百餘員，而川、廣尤多未代。帝曰：“此豈人情之所樂耶？其亟代之。 ”帝御後殿視事，或至旰食。中書請如天禧舊制，審官、三班院、流內銓日引見毋得過兩人，詔弗許。自真宗朝，試身、言、書、判者第推恩，乃特詔曰：“國家詳核吏治，念其或淹常選，而以四事程其能。朕承統緒，循用舊典，爰命從臣，精加詳考。其令翰林學士李諮與吏部流內銓以成資闕為差擬。 ”於是鹹得遷官，率以為常。後議者以身、言、書、判為無益，乃罷。

Early in Emperor Renzong's reign the official roster was still lean, yet the Ministry of Personnel reported that more than eight hundred secretariat staff and prefectural and county officials empire-wide had finished their terms without replacements. In Sichuan and Guang the backlog was especially severe. The Emperor said, "Surely no one would willingly endure this? Replace them at once. " The Emperor held court in the rear hall and sometimes worked so late that dinner was delayed. The Secretariat asked to restore the old Tianxi rule limiting the Office for Review of Appointments, the Third-Class Hall, and the Within-the-Stream Selection to presenting no more than two candidates per day for imperial audience, but the Emperor refused. Since Emperor Zhenzong's reign, candidates tested in physique, speech, calligraphy, and judgment had received only graded promotions. Now a special edict declared, "The state scrutinizes official performance closely. Knowing that some candidates languish in the regular selection process, we test their ability in four areas. Having received the imperial succession, I follow established precedent and command my ministers to examine candidates with the greatest care. Let Hanlin Academician Li Zou and the Ministry of Personnel's Within-the-Stream Selection draw up assignments from fully qualified vacancies. " Thereafter all who passed were promoted, and the practice soon became routine. Later critics argued that testing physique, speech, calligraphy, and judgment served no purpose, and the practice was abolished.

凡磨勘遷京官，始增四考為六考，舉者四人為五人，曾犯過又加一考。舉吏各有等數，得被舉者須有本部監司、長吏按察官，乃得磨勘；須到官一考，方許薦任。凡選人年二十五以上，遇郊，限半年赴銓試，命兩製三員鎖試於尚書省，糊名謄錄。習辭業者試論、試詩賦，詞理可采、不違程式為中格，習經業者人專一經，兼試律，十而通五為中格，聽預選。七選以上經三試至選滿，京朝官保任者三人，補遠地判、司、簿、尉，無舉主者補司士參軍，或不赴試、亦無舉者，永不預選。京官年二十五以上，歲首赴試於國子監，考法如選人，中格者調官。兩任無私罪而有部使、州守倅舉者五人，入親民；舉者三人，惟與下等厘物務官。

For merit reviews leading to promotion to capital official rank, the requirement was raised from four appraisals to six, the number of recommenders from four to five, and one additional appraisal was required of anyone who had previously committed an offense. Each recommending official had a fixed quota, and a candidate needed recommendations from circuit commissioners, chief officials, or inspecting officials of his home jurisdiction before he could undergo merit review; and one full appraisal after taking office was required before anyone could recommend him. All candidates twenty-five and older, when a suburban sacrifice occurred, had half a year to take the selection examination. Three drafters of edicts were appointed to conduct a sealed examination at the Ministry office, with names concealed and papers copied for grading. Candidates trained in literary studies were tested on essays and regulated verse; acceptable reasoning within proper form earned a middle pass. Those trained in classical studies specialized in one classic and were also tested in law; answering five of ten correctly earned a middle pass and qualified them for preliminary selection. Candidates who had completed seven selection rounds and passed three examinations, with three capital court officials as guarantors, were assigned to distant posts as judicial administrators, section officers, registrars, or vice magistrates. Those without recommenders became Registry Officers. Anyone who skipped the examination and lacked recommenders was permanently barred from preliminary selection. Capital officials twenty-five and older took the examination at the Directorate of Education at the start of each year under the same rules as selection candidates; those who passed at the middle grade received new assignments. After two terms without private offenses and with five recommendations from circuit commissioners, prefects, or vice prefects, they were assigned to posts dealing directly with the people; with three recommenders they received only lower-grade revenue and supplies posts.

初，州郡多闕官，縣令選尤猥下，多為清流所鄙薄，每不得調。乃詔吏部選幕職官為知縣，又立舉任法以重令選，敕諸路察縣之不治者。然被舉者日益眾，有司無闕以待之，中書奏罷舉縣令法。未幾，有言親民之任輕，則有害於治，法不宜廢。復令指劇縣奏舉，舉者二人，必一人本部使，既居任，復有舉者，始得遷，否則如常選，毋輒升補。常參官已授外任，勿奏舉。然銓格煩密，府史奸弊尤多，而磨勘者待次外州，或經三二歲乃得改官，往往因緣薄勞，求截甲引見。有詔自是弗許。

At first many prefectures and commanderies lacked officials, and the county magistrate pool was especially low in quality. Elite officials looked down on such posts, and candidates often failed to secure assignments. An edict then ordered the Ministry of Personnel to appoint secretariat staff officials as county magistrates with full authority, established a recommendation law to elevate the magistrate pool, and commanded each circuit to investigate poorly governed counties. But recommended candidates grew so numerous that responsible offices lacked vacancies for them all, and the Secretariat memorialized to abolish the county magistrate recommendation law. Before long critics argued that treating posts dealing directly with the people too lightly would harm governance and that the law should not be abolished. The court again ordered that difficult counties be designated for memorial recommendation. Two recommenders were required, one of them the circuit commissioner of the candidate's jurisdiction. Once in office, further recommendation was needed before promotion; otherwise the official followed the regular selection process and could not be casually advanced. Regular court attendees who had already received outside appointments were not to be recommended by memorial. Yet the selection regulations were intricate, bureau clerks corrupt, and officials awaiting merit review often queued in outside prefectures for two or three years before promotion. Many exploited thin records of service to cut ahead in the register and obtain imperial audience. An edict thereafter forbade the practice.

神宗欲更制度，建議之臣以為唐銓與今選殊異，雜用其製，則有留礙煩紊之弊。始刊削舊條，務從簡便，因廢南曹而並歸之於銓。初，審官西院與東院對掌文武，尋改從吏部，而左、右選分焉。祖宗以來，中書有堂選，百司、郡縣有奏舉，雖小大殊科，然皆不隸於有司。暨元豐罷奏舉闕，屬之銓曹，而堂選亦不領於中書，一時更製，必欲公天下而詒永久。於是除免選之恩，重出官之試，定賞罰之則，酌資蔭之宜。凡設試以待命士而入之銓注者，自蔭補、銓試之外，有進士律義、武臣呈試及試刑法官等，而銓試所受為特廣。中書言：“選人守選，有及三年方遇恩放選者，或適歸選而遽遇恩，既為不均，且蔭補免試注官，以不習事多失職，試者又止試詩，豈足甄才？已受任而無勞績，舉薦及免試恩法，須再試書判三道，然亦虛文。”

Emperor Shenzong wished to reform the institutions. Ministers who proposed changes argued that the Tang selection system differed greatly from the present one and that mixing the two would create obstruction and confusion. They began revising old regulations for simplicity and convenience, abolished the Southern Bureau, and merged its functions into the selection office. Initially the Western and Eastern Halls of the Office for Review of Appointments jointly handled civil and military selection. They were later placed under the Ministry of Personnel and divided into Left and Right Selection. Since the founding of the dynasty, the Secretariat had exercised Secretariat selection, and the various offices, commanderies, and counties had used memorial recommendation. Though the categories differed in rank, none fell under the regular selection offices. In the Yuanfeng reforms memorial-recommendation vacancies were assigned to the Selection Department and Secretariat selection was removed from the Secretariat. The institutions were changed at a stroke, aiming to open appointments to the realm and establish lasting order. Grace exempting candidates from the selection wait was abolished, the examination for first office was strengthened, rules of reward and punishment were fixed, and the proper scope of yin privilege was determined. Examinations awaited those entering selection assignment: apart from yin supplementation and the selection examination itself, there were tests in legal principles for presented scholars, presentation examinations for military officials, and judicial examinations, among others. But the selection examination drew by far the widest pool of candidates. The Secretariat reported, "Some candidates awaiting selection waited three years before a grace amnesty released them; others had just returned when grace arrived unexpectedly. The system was already unequal. Yin supplementation exempted candidates from examination, yet many appointees failed because they lacked experience. Those who were tested faced only a poetry examination. How could that identify talent? Those already appointed without records of achievement, whether through recommendation or grace laws exempting examination, had to retake three document-judgment questions, yet even that was empty formality.

熙寧四年，遂定銓試之製：凡守選者，歲以二月、八月試斷按二，或律令大義五，或議三道，後增試經義。差官同銓曹撰式考試，第為三等，上等免選注官，優等升資如判超格，無出身者賜之出身。自是不復試判，仍去免選恩格，若曆任有舉者五人，自與免試注官。任子年及二十，聽赴銓試。其試不中或不能試，選人滿三歲許注官，惟不得入縣令、司理、司法。任子年及三十方許參注，若年及三十授官，已及三年，出官亦不用試。若秩入京朝，即展任監當三年，在任有二人薦之，免展。選人應改官，必對便殿。舊制，五日一引，不過二人。至是，待次者多，有逾二年乃得引。帝閔其留滯，詔每甲引四人以便之。

In the fourth year of Xining the selection examination was fixed. All candidates awaiting selection were tested each February and August on two case briefs, or five essential principles of statutes and ordinances, or three policy essays. Classic meaning was later added to the examination. Officials were dispatched to join the Selection Department in setting the examination. Results were divided into three grades: the top grade exempted candidates from the selection wait and granted immediate office; the superior grade advanced seniority as if judgment exceeded grade; those without examination standing received it. Thereafter document judgment was no longer tested and the grace regulation exempting the selection wait was abolished. Anyone with five recommenders across successive terms was automatically exempted from examination and granted office. Sons receiving yin privilege who reached twenty were permitted to take the selection examination. Those who failed or could not take the examination were permitted office assignment after three years as candidates, but could not become county magistrates, judicial administrators, or judicial-review officials. Sons receiving yin privilege could participate in assignment only at thirty. If appointed at thirty after three years' waiting, they also needed no examination for first office. If promoted to capital court rank, they had to extend supervisory custody for three years, unless two persons recommended them while in office, in which case the extension was waived. Candidates due for promotion had to appear for audience in the Convenient Hall. Under the old system audience was held every five days, with no more than two candidates presented. By this time so many candidates were waiting that some queued more than two years before receiving audience. Pitying their delay, the Emperor ordered that four candidates per register cohort be presented for audience to speed the process.

帝因論郡守，謂宰臣曰：“朕每思祖宗百戰得天下，今州郡付之庸人，常切痛心。卿輩謂何如而得選任之要？ ”文彥博請擇監司而按察之。陳升之曰：“取難治劇郡，擇審官近臣而責以選才，宜可得也。”

While discussing prefects, the Emperor said to his chief ministers, "I often reflect that our ancestors won the realm through a hundred battles, yet today we entrust prefectures and commanderies to mediocre men. That constantly grieves me. What do you consider the key to proper selection and appointment? " Wen Yanbo proposed selecting supervisory commissioners to inspect them. Chen Sheng-zhi said, "Take the hardest commanderies to govern, select close ministers from the Office for Review of Appointments, and charge them with finding talent. Suitable men should be obtainable.

初置審官西院，磨勘武臣，並如審官院格，而舊審官曰東院。御史中丞呂公著言：“英宗時，文臣磨勘，例展一年，至少卿、監止。武臣橫行以上及使臣，猶循舊制，固未嚐如文臣有所節抑也。又仁宗時，嚐著令，正任防禦、團練以上，非邊功不遷。今及十年嚐曆外任，即許轉，亦未如少卿、監之有限止也。 ”詔兩製詳定。王珪等言：“文武兩選磨勘，已皆均用四年。請今自正任刺史以上，轉官未滿十年，若有顯效者自許特轉，其非次恩惟許改易州鎮，以示旌寵。有過，則比文臣展年。 ”從之。知審官西院李壽朋言：“皇城使占籍者三十餘員，多領遙郡，而尚得從磨勘，遷刺史、團練防禦使。每進一級，增奉錢五萬，廩粟雜給如之，實為無名。請於皇城使上別置二使名，視前行郎中，量給奉祿。其遙郡刺史、團練防禦使，並從朝廷賞功擢用，更不序遷。 ”詔：“遙郡刺史、團練防禦使，並以十年磨勘，至觀察留後止。應官止而有功若特恩遷者，不以法。”

When the Western Hall of the Office for Review of Appointments was first established, it conducted merit review of military officials under the same regulations as the main office, while the former office was renamed the Eastern Hall. Censor-in-Chief Lü Gongzhu said, "Under Emperor Yingzong, civil officials undergoing merit review routinely had one year added to their term, with the limit stopping at vice director and director. Military officials of hengxing rank and above and envoy-officials still followed the old system and had never faced the restraints applied to civil officials. Moreover, under Emperor Renzong a regulation had been issued that substantive defense and training commissioners and above could not be promoted without frontier merit. Now after ten years of outside service transfer was permitted, yet this still lacked the fixed limits applied to vice directors and directors. " An edict ordered drafters of edicts to examine the matter in detail. Wang Gui and others reported, "Civil and military merit reviews already both use a uniform four-year term. We propose that from substantive prefect upward, if an official has served less than ten years, those with conspicuous achievement may receive special transfer. Out-of-turn grace should be limited to changing prefecture or commandery assignment as a mark of honor. If an offense occurred, years should be extended as for civil officials. " The proposal was approved. Li Shoupeng, director of the Western Hall of the Office for Review of Appointments, reported, "More than thirty Imperial City Commissioners on register, many holding distant honorary commands, still underwent merit review and were promoted to prefect, training commissioner, or defense commissioner. Each promotion added fifty thousand in salary, with grain rations and allowances likewise. The expense was wholly unjustified. We propose establishing two new commissioner titles above Imperial City Commissioner, treated as equivalent to former Langzhong rank, with commensurate salary. Distant-command prefects, training commissioners, and defense commissioners should be promoted by the court for meritorious service and no longer advance by regular sequence. " An edict declared, "Distant-command prefects, training commissioners, and defense commissioners all undergo ten-year merit review, with promotion stopping at observation commissioner deputy. Promotions for merit or special grace beyond the prescribed limit are not bound by this regulation.

諸司使副，每磨勘皆用常製，雖軍功亦無別異，而閣門內侍輩，轉皆七資。帝謂：“左右近習，非勳勞而得超躐，至嚐立功者乃無優遷，非製也。 ”使副嚐有軍功應轉，許特超七資，閣門通事舍人、帶禦器械、兩省都知押班、管幹禦藥院使臣七資超轉法，皆除之。後客省、引進、四方館各置使二員，東、西上閣門共置使六員，客省、引進、閣門副使共八員。副使磨勘如諸司使法。使有闕，改官及五期者，樞密院檢舉。曆閣門職事有犯事理重者，當遷日除他官；閣門、四方館使七年無私過，未有闕可遷者，加遙郡；特旨與正任者，引進四年轉團練使，客省四年轉防禦使：皆著為定制焉。

Commissioners and vice commissioners of various offices all followed the regular merit review system, with no special treatment even for military merit. Yet gatehouse attendants and inner attendants advanced seven grades with every promotion. The Emperor said, "Close attendants leapfrogged ranks without meritorious service, while those who had actually achieved merit received no preferential advancement. This is not proper regulation. " Vice commissioners with military merit deserving promotion were permitted special advancement of seven grades. The seven-grade leapfrog rules for Gatehouse Herald Masters of Ceremonies, bearers of imperial arms, heads and ushers of the two inner palaces, and envoy-officials of the Imperial Pharmacy were all abolished. Later Guest Reception, Introducing Tribute, and the Four Directions Hall each received two commissioners; the Eastern and Western Upper Gatehouses together received six commissioners; and Guest Reception, Introducing Tribute, and Gatehouse vice commissioners totaled eight posts. Vice commissioners underwent merit review under the same rules as commissioners of various offices. When a commissioner post fell vacant, the Bureau of Military Affairs screened candidates who had changed office and completed five terms. Gatehouse officials who committed serious offenses were reassigned to other posts on the day they would otherwise have been promoted; Gatehouse and Four Directions Hall commissioners with seven years without private offenses but no vacancy for promotion received distant honorary commands; Those granted substantive appointment by special edict transferred from Introducing Tribute to training commissioner in four years and from Guest Reception to defense commissioner in four years. All these rules were fixed as permanent regulation.

先是，御史乞罷堂選，曾公亮執不可。王安石曰：“中書總庶務，今通判亦該堂選，徒留滯，不能精擇，宜歸之有司。 ”帝曰：“唐陸贄謂：‘宰相當擇百官之長，而百官之長擇百官。 ’今之審官，苟得其人，安有不能精擇百官者哉？ ”元豐四年，堂選、堂占悉罷。

Previously censors had asked to abolish Secretariat selection, but Zeng Gongliang insisted it could not be done. Wang Anshi said, "The Secretariat oversees all affairs, yet even transit intendants fall under Secretariat selection. That merely causes delay and prevents careful choice. Such appointments should return to the responsible offices. " The Emperor replied, "Lu Zhi of Tang said, 'The chief minister should select the heads of the hundred offices, and the heads of the hundred offices should select the officials beneath them. ' If the Office for Review of Appointments has the right people, how could it fail to select officials with care? " In the fourth year of Yuanfeng, Secretariat selection and Secretariat reserved posts were entirely abolished.

初，有司屬職卑者不在吏銓，率命長吏舉奏。都水監主簿李士良言：“沿河干集使臣，凡百六十餘員，悉從水監奏舉，往往不諳水事，幹請得之。 ”乃詔東、西審官及三班院選差。於是悉罷內外長吏舉官法。明年，令吏部始立定選格，其法：各隨所任職事，以入仕功狀，循格以俟擬注。如選巡檢、捕盜官，則必因武舉、武學，或緣舉薦，或從獻策得出身之人。他皆仿此。

Initially low-ranking subordinate posts in the various offices did not fall under Ministry of Personnel selection; chief officials were generally ordered to recommend candidates by memorial. Li Shiliang, chief clerk of the Directorate of Waterways, reported, "More than one hundred sixty riverine duty envoy-officials along the rivers were all recommended by the Waterways Directorate. Many knew nothing of water management and obtained their posts through solicitation. " An edict then ordered the Eastern and Western Halls of the Office for Review of Appointments and the Third-Class Hall to select and assign them. Thereupon all methods of recommendation by chief officials inside and outside the capital were entirely abolished. The next year the Ministry of Personnel was ordered to establish fixed selection standards for the first time. Each category was to follow the duties of the post in question, using entry-to-office service records to meet the standards and await proposed assignment. When selecting circuit patrollers and bandit-capture officials, for example, candidates had to come from military examination or military academy graduates, or from those who had entered office through recommendation or by presenting strategy. All other categories followed this model.

自官制行，以舊少卿、監為朝議大夫，諸卿、監為中散大夫，秘書監為中大夫。故事，兩製不轉卿、監官，每至前行郎中，即超轉諫議大夫。前行郎中，於階官為朝請大夫；諫議大夫，於階官為太中大夫。帝謂：“磨勘者，古考績之法，所與百執事共之，而禁近獨超轉，非法也。 ”於是詔待制以下，並三年一遷，仍轉朝議、中散、中大夫三官。自是遷敘平允。凡開府儀同三司至通議大夫，無磨勘法；太中大夫至承務郎，皆應磨勘。待制以上六年遷兩官，至太中大夫止；承務郎以上四年遷一官，至朝請大夫止。朝議大夫以七十員為額，有闕，以次補之。選人磨勘用吏部法，遷京朝官則依新定之製。除授職事官，並以寄祿官品高下為法：凡高一品以上者為行，下一品者為守，二品以下者為試，品同者不用行、守、試。

Once the office system took effect, former vice directors and commissioners became Court Gentlemen for Discussion, full directors and commissioners became Grandees of Palace Attendance, and the Director of the Palace Library became a Grandee for Court Assembly. By precedent drafters of edicts did not transfer to director or commissioner posts; each time they reached front-rank bureau director they were specially promoted to Grandee of Remonstrance. Front-rank bureau director corresponded to the salary rank of Court Gentleman for Attending Court; Grandee of Remonstrance corresponded to the salary rank of Grandee for Palace Attendance. The Emperor said, "Merit review is the ancient method of assessing performance, shared with all officials. Yet those in palace proximity alone received special promotion. That is unlawful. " An edict then ordered that from Attendant Gentleman downward all officials would transfer once every three years, rotating through Court Gentleman for Discussion, Grandee of Palace Attendance, and Grandee for Court Assembly. From this point transfers and seniority became fair and even. From Grand Preceptor with honors equal to the Three Excellencies down to Grandee for Consultation, there was no merit review law; from Grandee for Palace Attendance to Gentleman for Responsible Service, all were subject to merit review. From Attendant Gentleman upward, two ranks were transferred every six years, stopping at Grandee for Palace Attendance; from Gentleman for Responsible Service upward, one rank was transferred every four years, stopping at Court Gentleman for Attending Court. Court Gentleman for Discussion was capped at seventy posts; when vacancies occurred, the next in order filled them. Candidates underwent merit review under Ministry of Personnel law; promotion to capital official rank followed the newly fixed system. When appointing substantive duty officials, all followed the higher or lower salary-rank grade: one grade higher meant acting appointment, one grade lower meant holding appointment, two grades lower meant trial appointment, and equal grade required none of these.

哲宗時，御史上官均言：“今仕籍，合文武二萬八千餘員，吏部逆用兩任闕次，而仕者七年乃成一任。當清其源，宜加裁抑。 ”朝廷下其章議之，司諫蘇轍議曰：“祖宗舊法，凡任子，年及二十五方許出官，進士、諸科，初命及已任而應守選者，非逢恩不得放選。先朝患官吏不習律令，欲誘之讀法，乃減任子出官年數，去守選之格，概令試法，通者隨得注官。自是天下爭誦律令，於事不為無補。然人人習法，則試無不中，故蔭補者例減五年，而選人無復選限。吏部員今年已用後四年夏秋闕，官冗至此亦極矣。宜追復祖宗守選舊法，而選滿之日，兼行試法之科，此亦今日之便也。 ”事報聞。

During Emperor Zhezong's reign, Censor Shangguan Jun reported, "Today's service roster totals more than twenty-eight thousand civil and military officials. The Ministry of Personnel draws on vacancy queues two terms in advance, yet an official needs seven years to complete one term. The source should be cleared, and restraint should be increased. " The court sent down his memorial for deliberation. Remonstrance Official Su Zhe argued, "Under ancestral law, hereditary privilege appointees had to reach twenty-five before taking office. Presented Scholars and graduates of various categories, whether on first appointment or already serving but required to wait for selection, could not be released for selection except by grace edict. The previous court, troubled that officials did not study laws and regulations, sought to induce them to read the law. It reduced the age at which hereditary privilege appointees could take office, removed the waiting-for-selection rule, and generally ordered a law examination; those who passed could immediately receive assignment. From this the realm vied to recite laws and regulations, which was not without benefit. Yet once everyone studied the law, none failed the test. Yin-supplemented appointees routinely had five years reduced, and candidates no longer faced selection waiting limits. The Ministry of Personnel this year has already consumed summer and autumn vacancies four years ahead. Official redundancy has reached an extreme. The ancestral waiting-for-selection law should be restored, and when the waiting period is fulfilled the law examination should also be administered. That too would serve the present need. " The matter was reported and noted.

三省言：“舊經堂除選人，惟嚐曆省府推官、台諫、寺監長貳、郎官、監司外，悉付吏部銓注，凡格所應入，遞升一等以優之。被邊州軍，其城砦巡檢、都監、監押、砦主、防巡、諸路捕盜官，及三萬緡以上課息場務，凡舊應舉官，員闕，許仍奏舉。 ”時通議大夫以上，有以特恩、磨勘轉官，而比之舊格，或實轉兩官至三四官者。右正言王覿謂非所以愛惜名器，請官至太中大夫以上，毋用磨勘遷轉。詔：“待制、太中大夫應磨勘者，止於通議大夫，餘官止中散大夫。中散以上勞績酬獎，合進官者，止許回授子孫。特命特遷，不拘此製。”

The Three Secretariats reported, "Candidates formerly appointed directly by the Secretariat, except those who had served as provincial and metropolitan judicial administrators, censorate and remonstrance officials, chief and vice directors of directorates and commissions, bureau directors, or supervisory officials, were all handed to the Ministry of Personnel for selection and assignment. Whatever rank the standards entitled them to, they were advanced one grade as a preferential treatment. In border prefectures and commands, fort and stockade patrollers, superintending commissioners, supervisory commissioners, stockade chiefs, defensive patrol officers, bandit-capture officials on the various circuits, and revenue-producing transport posts with annual profits of thirty thousand strings and above -- for all posts formerly subject to memorial recommendation, when vacancies occurred memorial recommendation was still permitted. " At the time, from Grandee for Consultation upward, some received rank transfer through special grace or merit review. Compared with the old standards, some actually advanced two ranks, or even three or four. Right Rectifier Wang Di argued that this was no way to cherish titles of honor and requested that from Grandee for Palace Attendance upward merit review transfer not be used. An edict stated, "Attendant Gentlemen and Grandees for Palace Attendance subject to merit review stop at Grandee for Consultation; other offices stop at Grandee of Palace Attendance. For Grandee of Palace Attendance and above, meritorious service rewards entitling rank advancement were permitted only as transferred privilege to descendants. Special appointments and special transfers were not bound by this system.

初，武臣戰功得賞，凡一資，則從所居官遞遷一級。於是以皇城使驟上遙刺，或入橫行；且閣門使以上，等級相比而輕重絕遠。因樞密院言，乃詔“閣門、左藏庫副使得兩資，客省、皇城使得三資，止許一轉，減年者許回授親屬。 ”又小使臣磨勘轉崇班者，歲毋過八十人。內臣昭宣使以上無磨勘法，惟押班以上則取裁，餘理五年磨勘。

Initially, when military officials received reward for battle merit, each qualification credit advanced them one grade in succession from their current post. Accordingly some Imperial City Commissioners suddenly rose to distant honorary prefectures or entered the hengxing series; Moreover, from Gatehouse Commissioner upward, ranks appeared comparable yet their weight differed enormously. At the Bureau of Military Affairs' report, an edict stated, "Gatehouse and Left Storehouse deputy commissioners receive two qualification credits; Guest Reception and Imperial City commissioners receive three. Only one transfer is permitted; those with reduced years may transfer privilege to relatives. " For junior envoy-officials undergoing merit review and transfer to the exalted class, the annual quota was not to exceed eighty persons. Inner-service officials from Zhaoxuan Commissioner upward had no merit review law; only from Procession Marshal upward was discretion exercised; the rest followed five-year merit review.

紹聖初，改定《銓試格》，凡攝官初歸選，散官、權官歸司，若新賜第，皆免試。每試者百人，惟取一人入優等，中書奏裁，二人為上等，五人為中等。崇寧以後，又復元豐製，而蔭補者須隸國學一年無過罰，乃試銓，若在學試嚐再入等，即免試；其公、私試嚐居第一，得比銓試推恩。政和間著為令。既而臣僚言：“進士中銓格者，每二百人，得優恩不過五七人，又或闕上等不取。而朝廷取隸國子試格，用之銓注，及今五年，而得上等優恩者二百四十人，免試者尚在其外。是蔭補隸學者，優於累試得第之人矣。 ”於是詔在學嚐魁一試者，許如舊恩，餘止令免試注官。吏部侍郎彭汝礪乞稍責吏部甄別能否，凡京朝官才能事效苟有可錄，尚書暨郎官銓擇以聞。三省分三年考察之，高則引對，次即試用，下者還之本選；若資曆、舉薦應入高而才行不副，許奏而降其等。凡皆略許出法而加升黜，歲各毋過三人。

At the beginning of Shaosheng, the 《Selection Examination Standards》 were revised. Provisional officials returning to candidacy for the first time, honorary-rank officials, acting officials returning to their bureau, and newly conferred degree holders were all exempt from examination. For each hundred examinees, only one entered the superior grade and was submitted to the Secretariat for decision; two were upper grade and five were middle grade. After Chongning the Yuanfeng system was restored, but yin-supplemented appointees had to enroll in the National University one year without punishment before taking the selection examination. If in school examinations they twice entered the grades, they were exempt; Those who once ranked first in public or private examinations received grace comparable to the selection examination. In the Zhenghe era this was written into regulation. Later officials reported, "Among Presented Scholars meeting selection standards, out of every two hundred only five or seven received superior grace, and sometimes upper grades were left unfilled. Yet the court took the standards for enrolled Imperial University examinations and applied them to selection and assignment. Over five years those receiving upper or superior grace already number two hundred forty, not counting those exempt from examination. Thus yin-supplemented students enrolled at school are favored over those who repeatedly tested and obtained degrees. " An edict then ordered that those who once ranked first in one school examination might receive the old grace; the rest were only exempt from examination for assignment. Vice Minister of Personnel Peng Ruli asked that the Ministry of Personnel be charged with distinguishing ability. For all capital officials whose talent and performance had anything worth recording, the ministry director and bureau directors were to select them and report. The Three Secretariats were to examine them over three years; the highest were presented in audience, the next were tried in office, and the lowest returned to their original candidacy; If seniority and recommendations entitled them to higher entry but conduct and ability did not match, memorials were permitted to lower their grade. All were generally permitted departure from the law with added promotion or demotion, not exceeding three persons per year in each category.

初，選人改官，歲以百人為額。元祐變法，三人為甲，月三引見，積累至紹聖初，待次者二百八十餘人。詔依元豐五日而引一甲，甲以三人，歲毋過一百四十人，俟待次不及百人，別奏定。又令曆任通及三考，而資序已入幕職、令錄，方許舉之改官。吏部言：“元豐選格，經元祐多所紛更，於是選集後先，路分遠近，資曆功過，悉無區別，逾等超資，惟其所欲。詔旨既復元豐舊制，而辟舉一路尚存，請盡復舊法，以息僥幸。 ”乃罷辟舉。

Initially, candidates changing office had an annual quota of one hundred persons. The Yuanyou reforms changed this to three persons per register group and three audiences per month. By the beginning of Shaosheng those waiting numbered more than two hundred eighty. An edict ordered return to the Yuanfeng rule of presenting one register group every five days, three per group, not exceeding one hundred forty per year. When those waiting fell below one hundred, a separate memorial would fix the rule. It was also ordered that after serving through three full appraisals in successive posts, and with seniority having reached staff posts or magistrates and recorders, recommendation for office change was permitted. The Ministry of Personnel reported, "The Yuanfeng selection standards, after many Yuanyou alterations, left queue order in assemblies, distance of circuit route, and seniority and merits or faults wholly undifferentiated. Skipping grades and exceeding qualification was whatever one wished. The imperial intent having restored the Yuanfeng old system, the special recruitment route still remains. We ask to restore the old law entirely to quiet opportunism. " Special recruitment was then abolished.

初，未改官制，大率以職為階官。如以吏部尚書為階官，而同中書門下平章事則其職也。至於選人，則幕職、令錄之屬為階官，而以差遣為職，名實混淆甚矣。元豐未及革正。崇寧二年，刑部尚書鄧洵武極言之，遂定選人七階：曰承直郎，曰儒林郎，曰文林郎，曰從事郎，曰通仕郎，曰登仕郎，曰將仕郎。政和間，改通仕為從政，登仕為修職，將仕為迪功，而專用通仕、登仕、將仕三階奏補未出官人，承直至修職須六考，迪功七考，有官保任而職司居其一，乃得磨勘。坐愆犯，則隨輕重加考及舉官有差。

Initially, before the office system was reformed, the duty post generally served as the salary rank. For example, Ministry of Personnel Director was the salary rank, while Concurrent Grand Councilor of the Secretariat-Chancellery was the duty. As for candidates, staff posts and magistrates and recorders served as salary ranks while temporary assignment was the duty. Name and substance were greatly confused. Yuanfeng did not in time reform this. In the second year of Chongning, Minister of Punishments Deng Xunwu spoke forcefully on this, and the seven candidate ranks were fixed: Court Gentleman for Direct Achievement, Gentleman of the Forest of Scholars, Gentleman of the Forest of Letters, Gentleman for Attendant Service, Gentleman for Government Service, Gentleman for Entering Office, and Gentleman Preparing for Office. In the Zhenghe era Gentleman for Government Service was renamed Gentleman for Participation in Governance, Gentleman for Entering Office became Gentleman for Cultivation of Office, and Gentleman Preparing for Office became Gentleman for Meritorious Achievement. Only the three lowest ranks were used for memorial supplementation of those not yet in office. From Court Gentleman for Direct Achievement through Gentleman for Cultivation of Office required six appraisals and Gentleman for Meritorious Achievement seven. With official guarantors, one of whom held office in the responsible bureau, merit review was permitted. If guilty of offense, additional appraisals were added according to severity and recommending officials were penalized differentially.

時權奸柄國，僥幸並進，官員益濫，銓法留礙。臣僚言：“吏員增多，蓋因入流日眾。熙寧郊禮，文武奏補總六百一十一員；元豐六年，選人磨勘改京朝官總一百三十有五員。考之吏部，政和六年，郊恩奏補約一千四百六十有畸，選人改官約三百七十有畸。欲節其濫，惟嚴守磨勘舊法。而今之磨勘，有局務減考第，有川遠減舉官，有用酬賞比類，有因大人特舉，有托事到闕不用滿任，有約法違礙許先次而改。凡皆棄法用例，法不能束而例日益繁，苟不裁之，將又倍蓰而未可計也。請詔三省若吏部，舊有止法，自當如故，餘皆毋得用例。 ”乃詔：“惟川、廣水土惡地，許減舉如製，餘悉用元豐法。 ”既而又言：“元豐進納官法，多所裁抑。應入令錄及因賞得職官，止與監當，該磨勘者換授降等使臣，仍不免科率，法意深矣。邇者用兵東南，民入金穀皆得補文武官，理選如官戶，與士大夫涇、渭並流，復其戶不受科輸。是得數千緡於一日，而失數萬斛於無窮也。況大戶得復，則移其科於下戶，下戶重貧，州縣緩急，責辦何人？此又弊之大者。 ”不聽。

At the time a powerful faction held the state. Opportunists advanced together, official ranks grew ever more redundant, and selection law was obstructed. Officials reported, "The increase in officials stems from the daily growth of those entering the regular stream. At the Xining suburban sacrifice, civil and military memorial supplementation totaled six hundred eleven posts; In the sixth year of Yuanfeng, candidates undergoing merit review and changing to capital official rank totaled one hundred thirty-five posts. Examining the Ministry of Personnel, in the sixth year of Zhenghe suburban grace memorial supplementation was about one thousand four hundred sixty odd, and candidates changing office about three hundred seventy odd. To restrain this redundancy, only strict adherence to the old merit review law will suffice. Yet today's merit review has reduced appraisals for transport-post duty, reduced recommenders for distant Sichuan posts, used reward precedents by analogy, relied on special recommendation by high officials, used arrival at court on business to avoid completing a full term, and permitted prior-order change when the law was violated. All these abandon law and use precedent. Law cannot bind while precedents daily grow more numerous. If not cut back, they will multiply again beyond reckoning. We ask that an edict order the Three Secretariats and the Ministry of Personnel: where old fixed law exists, it should remain as before; all else must not use precedent. " An edict then stated, "Only for Sichuan and Guang regions with harsh terrain and water are reduced recommenders permitted as regulated; all else wholly follows Yuanfeng law. " Later they again reported, "The Yuanfeng purchase-of-office law imposed many restraints. Those entitled to magistrates and recorders and those receiving substantive posts through reward were given only supervisory duty. Those subject to merit review received exchanged appointment as reduced-grade envoy-officials and still could not escape tax levies. The intent of the law was profound. Recently in the southeastern campaign, commoners who contributed gold and grain could all be supplemented as civil or military officials, processed for selection like official households, and intermingled with scholar-officials like the Jing and Wei rivers. Their households were restored and exempted from tax transport. This gains several thousand strings in one day but loses tens of thousands of hu forever. Moreover, when great households are restored, their tax burden shifts to lesser households. Lesser households are heavily impoverished. In prefecture and county emergencies, upon whom will responsibility fall? This too is among the greatest abuses. " The court did not heed this.

高宗建炎初，行都置吏部。時四選散亡，名籍莫考。始下諸道州、府、軍、監，條具屬吏寓官之爵裏、年甲、出身、曆仕功過、舉主、到罷月日，編而籍之。然自兵難以來，典籍散失，吏緣為私，申明繁苛，承用踳駮，保任滋眾，阻會無期，參選者苦之。乃令凡文字有不應於今，而桉牘參照明白，從郎官審覆，長貳予決，小不完者聽行，有狥私挾情，則令御史糾之。又詔京畿、京東、河北、京西、河東士夫在部注授，雖銓未中而年及者，皆聽注官。二年，命京官赴行在者，令吏部審量，非政和以後進書頌及直赴殿試之人，乃聽參選。在部知州軍、通判、僉判及京朝官知縣、監當以三年為任者，權改為二年。以赴調者萃東南，選法留滯故也。又詔州縣久無正官者，聽在選人申部，審度榜闕差注。

At the beginning of Jianyan under Emperor Gaozong, the Ministry of Personnel was established at the mobile capital. At the time the four selection streams were scattered and lost, and name registers could not be verified. An order was first sent to prefectures, commands, and supervisory posts on the various circuits to itemize subordinate officials and stationed officials' titles, residences, age, entry to office, successive service merits and faults, recommenders, and arrival and departure dates, compile them, and register them. Yet since the military crisis records had been scattered and lost. Clerks exploited this for private gain, clarifications were numerous and harsh, application was confused and contradictory, guarantors multiplied, blocking assemblies had no fixed term, and those assembling for selection suffered. It was then ordered that for all documents not conforming to present rules, if case files and references were clear, bureau directors were to review and chief and vice directors decide. Minor incompleteness was permitted to proceed; if there was favoritism or personal motive, censors were ordered to impeach. An edict also ordered that scholar-officials of the capital region, eastern capital circuit, Hebei, western capital circuit, and Hedong who were at the ministry for assignment, even if they had not passed selection but their age qualified, were all permitted assignment. In the second year, capital officials proceeding to the mobile court were ordered examined by the Ministry of Personnel. Only those who had not, after Zhenghe, submitted books of praise or gone directly to the palace examination were permitted to assemble for selection. For prefects and commanders, transit intendants, assistant judicial administrators at the ministry, and capital officials serving as county magistrates or supervisory duty on three-year terms, the term was provisionally changed to two years. This was because those proceeding to audience assembled in the southeast and selection law was delayed. An edict also ordered that where prefectures and counties long lacked regular officials, candidates at the ministry were permitted to apply, and vacancies would be posted after review for assignment.

紹興元年，起居郎胡寅言：“今典章文物，廢墜無幾，百司庶府不可闕者，莫如吏部。姑置侍郎一員，郎官二員，胥吏三十人，則所謂磨勘、封敘、奏薦常程之事，可按而舉矣。”

In the first year of Shaoxing, Attending Gentleman Hu Yin reported, "Today institutions and cultural artifacts have fallen into ruin with little remaining. Among the hundred offices and various bureaus that cannot be lacking, none compares to the Ministry of Personnel. For the moment appoint one vice minister, two bureau directors, and thirty clerks, and then the routine matters of merit review, enfeoffment and posthumous honors, and memorial recommendation can be carried out in order.

詔曰：“六官之長，佐王理邦國者，其惟銓衡乎。亂離以來，士大夫流徙，有徒跣而赴行在者。注授榜闕，奸弊日滋，寒士困苦，甚可憫焉。宜令三省議除其弊，嚴立賞禁，仍選能吏以主之，御史台常加糾察。 ”於是三省立八事，曰注擬藏闕，申請徼幸，去失問難，刷闕滅裂，關會淹延，審量疑似，給付邀求，保明退難。令長貳機柅之。又詔館職選人到任及一年，通理四考，並自陳，改京官。

An edict stated, "Of the chiefs of the six ministries who assist the king in governing the realm, is not selection and weighing the foremost? Since the chaos and dispersal, scholar-officials have wandered in exile. Some have gone barefoot to the mobile court. Corruption in posting vacancies for assignment grows daily, and poor scholars suffer greatly -- a matter deeply to be lamented. The Three Secretariats should be ordered to discuss removing these abuses, strictly establish rewards and prohibitions, select capable clerks to oversee the work, and have the Censorate conduct regular scrutiny. " Thereupon the Three Secretariats established eight categories of abuse: hoarding vacancies in proposed assignments, opportunistic applications, questioning over lost documents, tearing up vacancy lists, delaying joint consultations, ambiguous review of doubtful cases, demanding payment for disbursement, and guarantors backing away from difficulties. Chief and vice directors were ordered to restrain them. An edict also ordered that academy-post candidates who had served one year upon taking office and completed four merit evaluations in total were all to self-petition for promotion to capital official rank.

二年，呂頤浩言：“近世堂除，多侵部注，士人失職。宜仿祖宗故事，外自監司、郡守及舊格堂除通判，內自察官省郎以上、館職、書局編修官外，餘闕並寺監丞、法寺官、六院等，武臣自準備將領、正副將以上，其部將、巡尉、指使以下，並歸部注。 ”從之。又復文臣銓試，以經義、詩賦、時議、斷案、律義為五場，願試一場者聽，榜首循一資。武臣呈試合格者並聽參選。

In the second year, Lü Yihao said, "In recent times direct Secretariat appointments often encroach on Ministry assignments, and scholar-officials lose their proper posts. We should follow the precedents of the dynastic founders. Externally, from circuit supervisors and prefects downward, and transit intendants under the old standards for direct appointment; internally, from censorate and ministry bureau directors upward, academy posts, and Secretariat Chancellery compilation editors excepted; all remaining vacancies including directorate and commission deputies, judiciary posts, the Six Bureaus, and the like; for military officials from reserve commanders and regular and deputy commanders upward; company commanders, patrol prefects, directors, and below should all revert to Ministry assignment. " The court assented. The civil officials' selection examination was restored, with classical interpretation, regulated verse, current policy essay, case judgment, and statutory interpretation as five sessions. Those wishing to test in only one session were permitted, and the top candidate advanced one seniority grade. Military officials who passed the presentation examination were all permitted to assemble for selection.

三年，右仆射朱勝非等上《吏部七司敕令格式》。自渡江後，文籍散佚，會廣東轉運司以所錄元豐、元祐吏部法來上，乃以省記舊法及續降指揮，詳定而成此書。先是，侍御史沈與求言：“今日矯枉太過，賢愚同滯。 ”帝曰：“果有豪傑之士，雖自布衣擢為輔相可也；苟未能考其實，不若姑守資格。 ”乃命吏部注授縣令，惟用合格之人。

In the third year, Right Vice Director Zhu Shengfei and others submitted the 《Statutes, Commands, and Formats of the Ministry of Personnel's Seven Bureaus》. Since crossing the river, documents had been scattered and lost. The Guangdong Transport Commission happened to submit its records of Yuanfeng and Yuanyou Ministry of Personnel laws, and the ministry then used archived old laws and subsequently issued directives, reviewed and fixed them, and completed this book. Previously, Supervising Censor Shen Yuqiu had said, "Today in over-correcting we have gone too far; the worthy and the foolish alike are stalled. " The Emperor said, "If there is truly a heroic talent, even promotion from commoner status to chief counselor would be acceptable; if we cannot verify substance, it is better for the moment to observe seniority standards. " The Ministry of Personnel was ordered to assign county magistrates using only qualified persons.

五年，詔：“凡注擬，並選擇非老疾及未嚐犯贓與非緣民事被罪之人。 ”時建議者云：“親民莫如縣令，今率限以資格，雖貪懦之人，一或應格，則大官大邑得以自擇。請詔監司、郡守，條上劇邑，遴選清平廉察之人為之。 ”既而又詔：“知縣依舊法，止用兩任關升通判資序。 ”明年，侍御史周祕言：“今有無舉員考第，因近臣薦對，即改官升擢，實長奔競。望詔大臣，自今惟賢德才能之人，餘並依格注擬。 ”廷臣或請以前宰執所舉改官，易以司馬光十科之目，歲薦五員，中書難之。詔“前宰執所舉京削，不理職司”而已。

In the fifth year, an edict stated, "For all proposed assignments, only select persons who are not aged or ill, who have not previously committed corruption offenses, and who have not been punished for civil-administration matters. " At the time a proponent said, "No one governs the people like the county magistrate. Now we generally limit by seniority standards -- even greedy and timid men, once they meet the standards, can choose among large posts and large counties for themselves. We request an edict to circuit supervisors and prefects to itemize and submit demanding counties and carefully select persons of integrity, fairness, and sharp judgment for them. " Then another edict stated, "County magistrates, according to the old law, require only the seniority grade of two terms' sequential promotion to transit intendant. " The next year, Supervising Censor Zhou Mi said, "Today there are those with no examination standing or rank placement who, through recommendation and audience by close court officials, immediately receive office change and promotion -- this truly encourages unscrupulous competition. We hope the Emperor will edict the great ministers that from now on only persons of virtue, talent, and ability should receive such favor, and all others shall be assigned according to standards. " Some court officials requested replacing office change through recommendations by former chief counselors with Sima Guang's ten categories, recommending five persons per year, but the Secretariat Chancellery objected. An edict said only that "recommendations by former chief counselors for capital rank conferral shall not count toward supervisory posts."

三十二年，吏部侍郎淩景夏言：“國家設銓選以聽群吏之治，其掌於七司，著在令甲，所守者法也。今升降於胥吏之手，有所謂例焉。長貳有遷改，郎曹有替移，來者不可復知，去者不能盡告。索例而不獲，雖有強明健敏之才，不復致議；引例而不當，雖有至公盡理之事，不復可伸。貨賄公行，奸弊滋甚。嚐睹漢之公府有辭訟比，尚書有決事比，比之為言，猶今之例。今吏部七司宜置例冊，凡換給之期限，戰功之定處，去失之保任，書填之審實，奏薦之限隔，酬賞之用否，凡經申請，或堂白、或取旨者，每一事已，命郎官以次擬定，而長貳書之於冊，永以為例，每半歲上於尚書省，仍關御史台。如是，則巧吏無所施，而銓敘平允矣。”

In the thirty-second year, Vice Minister of Personnel Ling Jingxia said, "The state established selection to govern the administration of the multitude of officials. It is managed in seven bureaus, recorded in statutory commands, and what is observed is law. Today promotions and demotions lie in the hands of clerks; there is what is called precedent. Chief and vice directors are transferred and bureau sections have replacements. Newcomers cannot again know the precedents, and those departing cannot fully inform their successors. When seeking precedent and not obtaining it, even if one has forceful clarity and vigorous sensitivity, one no longer enters into deliberation; when citing precedent that is inappropriate, even if there is a matter of utmost fairness and complete reason, it can no longer be upheld. Bribes proceed openly and corrupt practices grow worse daily. I have seen that in Han the public offices had litigation precedents and the Ministry had decision precedents; the word bi means what today we call precedent. Now the Ministry's seven bureaus ought to establish precedent volumes. For all deadlines on replacement credentials, fixed locations of military merit, guarantor responsibility for lost documents, verification of written forms, intervals for memorial recommendations, and whether rewards apply -- for all matters that pass through application, whether decided by hall consultation or by obtaining imperial intent -- once each matter is completed, bureau directors should draft the decision in sequence and chief and vice directors record it in the volume as permanent precedent. Every half year it is submitted to the Department of State Affairs, and the Censorate is also notified. If so, clever clerks have nowhere to apply their tricks, and selection and seniority ranking will be fair.

有議減任子者，孝宗以祖宗法令難於遽改，令吏部嚴選試之法。自是，初官毋以恩例免試，雖宰執亦不許自陳回授。舊制，任子降等補文學及恩科人皆免，至是悉試焉。凡未經銓中及呈試者，勿堂除；雖墨敕，亦許執奏。舊制，宗室文資與外官文臣參注窠闕，武資則不得與武臣參注，但注添差。至是，始聽注厘務闕。七年，始命銓試不中、年四十，呈試不中、年三十者，令寫家狀，讀律注官。陳師正言：“請令宗室恩任子弟出官日量行銓試，如士夫子弟之法，多立其額而優為之製。 ”遂詔：“自今宗室曾經應舉得解者，許參選，餘並行銓試，三人取二。其三試終場不中人，聽不拘年限調官。”

There was discussion of reducing yin privilege for sons. Emperor Xiaozong held that dynastic founding laws were difficult to change abruptly and ordered the Ministry to tighten selection examination regulations. From this time, first office could not use grace precedent to skip examination; even chief counselors were not permitted self-petition for transferred appointment. Under the old system, sons receiving yin privilege who received reduced-rank literary supplementation and persons of grace examination category were all exempt; from this time all were examined. All who had not passed selection examination or presentation examination were not to receive direct Secretariat appointment; even with sealed edicts, holding up and memorializing objection was permitted. Under the old system, clansmen with civil credentials competed with outside civil officials for regular vacancies, while those with military credentials could not compete with military officials for assignment and received only supplementary appointments. From this time, they were first permitted assignment to revenue and supplies posts. In the seventh year, it was first ordered that those who failed selection examination at age forty and those who failed presentation examination at age thirty were to submit household registers and, after reading law, receive office assignment. Chen Shizheng said, "We request that when clansmen's sons receiving grace appointment take first office, they undergo selection examination in measured fashion, like common scholar-officials' sons -- increase the quota and make the system preferential. " An edict then stated, "From now on clansmen who have taken the examinations and received preliminary qualification are permitted to assemble for selection. All others shall take the selection examination, with two of three passing. Those who after three full examination attempts still failed were permitted office assignment without regard to waiting limits.

淳熙元年，參知政事龔茂良言：“官人之道，在朝廷則當量人才，在銓部則宜守成法。法本無弊，例實敗之。法者，公天下而為之者也；例者，因人而立以壞天下之公者也。昔之患在於用例破法，今之患在於因例立法。諺稱吏部為‘例部’。今《七司法》自晏敦復裁定，不無疏略，然守之亦可以無弊。而徇情廢法，相師成風，蓋用例破法其害小，因例立法其害大。法常靳，例常寬，今法令繁多，官曹冗濫，蓋繇此也。望令裒集參附法及乾道續降申明，重行考定，非大有牴牾者弗去，凡涉寬縱者悉刊正之。庶幾國家成法，簡易明白，賕謝之奸絕，冒濫之門塞矣。 ”於是重修焉。既而吏部尚書蔡洸以改官、奏薦、磨勘、差注等條法分門編類，名《吏部條法總類》。十一月，《七司敕令格式申明》成書。

In the first year of Chunxi, Vice Grand Counselor Gong Maoliang said, "The way of appointing officials: at court one should measure talent; at the selection ministry one should observe established law. Law in itself has no flaw; precedent is what ruins it. Law is made for the public good of all under Heaven; precedent is established for individuals and destroys the public good of all under Heaven. The former trouble lay in using precedent to break law; today's trouble lies in legislating through precedent. Proverb calls the Ministry of Personnel the 'Ministry of Precedent.' Now the 《Seven Bureaus Law》, since Yan Dunfu's revision, is not without omissions, yet observing it can still avoid abuses. Yet indulging personal favor and abandoning law, one teaching another until it becomes custom -- using precedent to break law harms little, but legislating through precedent harms much. Law is always strict and precedent always lenient. Today laws and commands are numerous and offices redundant -- largely from this. We hope to order gathering the supplementary statutes and Qianlong-era subsequently issued clarifications, conduct renewed review and fixing, remove nothing unless greatly contradictory, and correct all involving undue leniency. Thus perhaps the state's established law will be simple and clear, bribery's wickedness ended, and the gate of reckless advancement blocked. " Thereupon it was revised. Subsequently Minister Cai Guang classified regulations on office change, memorial recommendation, merit review, and assignment by category, naming it 《General Collection of Ministry of Personnel Statutes》. In the eleventh month, the 《Clarifications to the Seven Bureaus' Statutes, Commands, and Formats》 was completed.

淳熙三年，中書舍人程大昌言：“舊制，選人改秩後兩任關升通判，通判兩任關升知州，知州兩任即理提刑資序。除授之際，則又有別以知縣資序隔兩等而作州者，謂之‘權發遣’，以通判資序隔一等而作州者，謂之‘權知’，上而提刑、轉運亦然。隔等而授，是擇材能也；結銜有差，是參用資格也。今得材能、資格俱應選者為上，其次，則擇第二任知縣以上有課績者許作郡，初任通判以上許作監司，第二任通判以上許作職司，庶幾人法並用。 ”從之。

In the third year of Chunxi, Drafter Cheng Dachang said, "Under the old system, after candidates changed rank, two terms' sequential promotion reached transit intendant; two terms as transit intendant reached prefect; two terms as prefect then counted toward judicial commissioner seniority. At time of appointment and conferral, there were also separate cases: using county magistrate seniority two ranks lower to serve as prefect was called 'acting dispatched'; using transit intendant seniority one rank lower to serve as prefect was called 'acting prefect'; upward, judicial commissioner and transport commissioner followed the same pattern. Appointment across ranks was selecting talent and ability; differences in formal title reflected combined use of seniority standards. Now those meeting both talent and seniority standards should rank first. Next, select those in a second term as county magistrate or above with evaluation merit to serve as prefect; those in a first term as transit intendant or above to serve as circuit supervisor; and those in a second term as transit intendant or above to serve as commission supervisor -- thus perhaps human talent and law will both be employed. " The court assented.

寧宗慶元中，重定《武臣關升格》。先是，初改官人必作令，謂之“須入”。至是，復命除殿試上三名、南省元外，並作邑；後又命大理評事已改官未曆縣人，並令親民一次，著為令。

During Qingyuan under Emperor Ningzong, the 《Military Officials' Sequential Promotion Standards》 were re-fixed. Previously, persons first changing office had to serve as magistrate, called "required county service." From this time, it was again ordered that except for the top three in the palace examination and the provincial first place, all were to serve in counties; Later it was ordered that Grand Court reviewers who had changed office but never served in counties were all to govern people once, established as regulation.

七年，監察御史陳垓建言，乞申戒飭銓法十弊：一曰添差數多，破法耗財；〈（謂倅貳、幕職、參議、機宜、總戎、鈐轄、監押之類。）〉二曰抽差員眾，州縣廢職；〈（謂監司、帥守幕屬多差見任州縣他官權攝。）〉三曰攝局違法，蠹政害民；〈（謂監司、師守徇私差權幕屬等職。）〉四曰“須入”不行，僥幸撓法；〈（謂初改官人必作知縣，今多規免，苟圖京局，躐求倅貳，遂使不曾曆縣之人冒當郡寄。）〉五曰奏辟不應，奔競日甚；〈（謂在法未經任人不許奏辟，今或以初任或以闕次遠而改辟見次者。）〉六曰改任巧捷，紊亂官常；〈（謂在法已授差遣人，不得幹求換易。今既授是官，復謀他職，辭卑居尊，棄彼就此。）〉七曰薦舉不公，多歸請托；八曰借補繁多，官資泛濫；九曰瘝曠職守，役心外求；十曰匿過居官，玩視國法。〈（謂曾經罪犯，必俟赦宥。今則既遭彈劾，初未經赦者，經營差遣。）〉

In the seventh year, Investigating Censor Chen Gai submitted advice, requesting imperial admonition to rectify ten abuses of selection law: first, too many supplementary appointments, breaking law and wasting resources; (That is, vice prefects, staff posts, advisory officials, expedient officers, overall commanders, seal-holding controllers, supervisory commissioners, and the like.) second, numerous requisitioned assignments, prefectures and counties neglecting duties; (That is, circuit supervisors' and commanders' staff often requisitioned other incumbent prefecture and county officials to serve in temporary acting posts.) third, illegal acting posts, corrupting administration and harming the people; (That is, circuit supervisors and commanders privately favor appointing provisional staff and similar posts.) fourth, "required county service" not enforced, opportunistically circumventing law; (That is, persons first changing office must serve as county magistrate, but today many plot exemption, grasp at capital posts, overreach for vice prefect posts, so that persons who never served in counties presumptuously hold prefectural trust.) fifth, improper memorial appointments, unscrupulous competition growing daily; (That is, by law persons not yet having served in a post were not permitted memorial appointment; today some with first office or distant vacancy sequence change to appoint those at current sequence.) sixth, clever manipulation of transferred appointments, disordering regular official duties; (That is, by law one already granted assignment dispatch may not importune to exchange. Today once granted that office, they again scheme for other posts, refusing the humble and seeking the honored, abandoning that for this.) seventh, unfair recommendations, mostly yielding to solicitations; eighth, numerous borrowed provisional appointments, official ranks flooding the system; ninth, absentee dereliction of duty, hearts set on external seeking; tenth, concealing faults while holding office, treating state law lightly. (That is, those who had committed offenses must wait for pardon and amnesty. Today once impeached, even before amnesty, they maneuver for assignment dispatch.)

舊制，軍功補授之人，自合從軍，非老疾當汰，無參部及就辟之法。比年諸路奏功不實，寅緣竄名，許令到部，及諸司紛然奏辟，實礙銓法。建炎兵興，雜流補授者眾，有曰上書獻策，曰勤王，曰守禦，曰捕盜，曰奉使，其名不一，皆閫帥假便宜承製之權以擅除擢。有進士徑補京官者，有素身冒名即為郎、大夫者。乃詔：“從軍應賞者，第補右選，以清流品。 ”又有民間願習射者，籍其姓名。守令月一試，取藝優者，如三路保甲法區用。

Under the old system, persons supplementarily appointed for military merit should have followed the army. Only if aged or ill were they to be eliminated -- there was no method of assembling at the ministry or seeking appointment. In recent years the various circuits reported merit falsely. Through connections they inserted names, were permitted to come to the ministry, and the various offices clamored to memorial-appoint -- truly obstructing selection law. When the Jianyan military crisis arose, numerous persons of mixed streams received supplementary appointment -- some called 'submitting books and offering strategies,' 'diligently serving the throne,' 'defending borders,' 'capturing bandits,' 'bearing imperial missions' -- names not uniform. All military commissioners used provisional imperial dispatch authority to appoint and promote at will. Some degree holders were directly supplemented to capital official rank; some unknown persons falsely assumed names and immediately became bureau directors or grandees. An edict was then issued: "Those due reward for military service are to be ranked for supplementation through the Right Selection, with pure-stream grades. " Moreover, civilians who wished to practice archery had their names registered. Prefects and magistrates tested them monthly and selected the most skilled for use in the Three-Circuit baojia defense districts.

紹興初，嚐以兵革經用不足，有司請募民入貲補官，帝難之。參知政事張守曰：“祖宗時，授以齋郎，今之將仕郎是也。 ”知樞密院李回曰：“此猶愈科率於民。 ”乃許補承節郎、承信郎、諸州文學至進義副尉六等，後又給通直郎、修武郎、秉義郎、承直至迪功郎。其注擬、資考、磨勘、改轉、蔭補、封敘，並依奏補出身法，毋得注令錄及親民官。和議之後，立格購求遺書，亦命以官。凡歿於王事，無遺表致仕格法者，聽奏補本宗異姓親子孫弟侄，文臣將仕郎，武臣承信郎；餘親，上州文學或進武校尉，所以褒恤忠義也。又以兩淮、荊襄，其土廣袤，募民力田。凡白身勸民墾田及七十五頃者與副尉，五百頃補承信郎。

At the beginning of Shaoxing, repeated warfare had left military funds short, and responsible offices proposed recruiting civilians to purchase office by contributing funds; the Emperor was reluctant. Participating Administrator Zhang Shou said: "Under the founding emperors, such men were granted Acolyte of the Temple—the equivalent of today's Gentleman for Initial Service. " Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs Li Hui said: "This is still preferable to levying exactions on the people. " They then permitted supplementation to six grades from Gentleman for Upholding Integrity and Gentleman for Upholding Trust through Literary Scholar of Various Prefectures down to Deputy Vice Commander for Advancing Righteousness; later they extended the range to Gentleman for Unimpeded Service, Gentleman for Cultivating Military Affairs, Gentleman for Upholding Righteousness, and from Gentleman for Upholding Integrity through Gentleman for Meritorious Achievement. Their assignment, seniority appraisal, merit review, transfer, yin supplementation, and enfeoffment and posthumous honors all followed the law governing memorial-supplemented entry; they could not be assigned as magistrates, recording secretaries, or people-governing officials. After the peace agreement, regulations were established to purchase lost books, and office was also granted as reward. For all who died in royal service without a final memorial or retirement under standard law, memorial supplementation was permitted for sons, grandsons, younger brothers, and nephews of the same surname in the patriline—civil officials to Gentleman for Initial Service, military officials to Gentleman for Upholding Trust; other kin to Literary Scholar of Upper Prefecture or Vice Commander for Advancing Military Affairs—thus loyalty and righteousness were honored and comforted. Moreover, because the Huai region and Jing-Xiang lands were broad and vast, civilians were recruited to cultivate the fields. Commoners who encouraged others to open fields totaling seventy-five qing received appointment as deputy vice magistrate; at five hundred qing they were supplemented to Gentleman for Upholding Trust.

孝宗即位，命帥臣、監司、郡守、嚐任兩府及朝官等遣親屬進貢，等第補授登仕郎、將仕郎，推恩理為選限。淳熙三年，詔罷鬻爵，除歉歲民願入粟賑饑、有裕於眾，聽補官，餘皆停。自是，進納軍功，不理選限，登仕郎、諸州助教不許出官，止於贖罪及就轉運司請解而已。

When Xiaozong took the throne, he ordered commanders, circuit supervisors, prefects, former two-administration officials, and capital officials to send kinsmen to present tribute; by grade they received appointment as Gentleman for Entering Office or Gentleman for Initial Service, with extended grace counted toward selection waiting limits. In the third year of Chunxi, an edict abolished the sale of ranks; except in famine years when civilians wished to contribute grain to relieve hunger to the benefit of the community, office supplementation was permitted—all else was stopped. From this time, purchase entry and military merit were not subject to selection waiting limits; Gentlemen for Entering Office and Assistant Instructors of Various Prefectures were not permitted to take substantive posts, being limited to redeeming offenses and requesting release at the transport commission.

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