Song Gexing

Chapter 62: Settle old scores with dad

Cao Quan nodded solemnly and said: "Brother is right. In recent years, the officials have slacked off a lot on the Imperial City Division. Many of the rewards that should be rewarded have been discounted or even cancelled. It is true that people's hearts have fluctuated a lot."

Zhao Fang frowned when he heard this: "Aren't rewards and punishments set by rules? How could they be cancelled?"

"Brother, I don't know that the court officials have always been dissatisfied with the Imperial City Division, and the officials listened to them..."

Even though Cao Quan was the uncle of the state, he didn't dare to speak too clearly. It was because of Zhao Zhen's soft ears that he gradually no longer paid attention to the Imperial City Division after being often admonished by civil servants.

This made Zhao Fang a little anxious. The role of the Imperial City Division on the emperor should not be ignored by any emperor, and it would even be better to expand it.

Even if the surveillance ministers are reduced, their role as secret agents is so great that even later generations will attach great importance to it, otherwise there would not be intelligence organizations in every country in the world.

"Uncle Eleven will go handle the affairs now, while Fang'er goes to find his father. The Imperial City Department cannot slack off. This matter must be settled and will not be changed by future generations."

Zhao Fang made a decision immediately, and Cao Quan said solemnly: "I will obey the king's order!"

The two immediately separated, and Zhao Fang went straight to the Chongzheng Palace. After seeing Zhao Zhen, he said seriously: "Does the father know the importance of the Imperial City Division? It is not only spying on the officials and citizens who commit crimes, but more importantly, To spy on the military situation and nip it in the bud, how can we alienate it?"

Zhao Zhen asked in astonishment: "How did you know that eldest brother has alienated the Imperial City Division?"

"In this internal investigation, the original multiple reward systems have been abolished and rights have been restricted. Isn't this alienation?"

"This……"

Zhao Zhen hesitated, glanced at the few close ministers present, and Fan Zhongyan immediately raised his hands and said: "It is true what the King of Wei said. This matter was decided after the courtiers discussed it. Is there anything wrong?"

"It's inappropriate! It's extremely inappropriate."

Zhao Fang reacted immediately and turned around to look at the three ministers present, Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi and Fu Bi.

"The little king understands the concerns of the ministers. The Imperial City Secretary was originally the Wude Secretary of the Later Tang Dynasty. He supervised all officials and restrained the guards and the Privy Council. However, because everyone in charge was the emperor's confidant, many lawless people used this as their authority. He obeys hundreds of officials, so all the public officials are disgusted with him."

Without waiting for their response, Zhao Fang continued: "However, the princes of Taizu are very clear about why Taizu should inherit the Wude Department. They cannot abandon it because of its shortcomings. A wise man will not act because of its shortcomings. The problem can be solved when it is found, instead of suppressing the institution and letting the its abolition.”

"The words of King Wei are false! The courtiers did not suggest the abolition of the Imperial City Department."

Fu Bi heard this and took over the words. Zhao Fang laughed and said: "It is true that the princes have not suggested abolishing it. We can reduce its funding and suppress its actions. Isn't it better to abolish it without abolishing it? As time goes by, people's hearts become distracted, and the Imperial City Sizhen It has become a place of retirement, so how can we talk about spying and monitoring."

"It's okay to spy on military intelligence, but is it right to monitor all officials?"

It was Han Qi who spoke. Looking at his father-in-law, Zhao Fang immediately replied: "If you are upright, you are not afraid of shadows. If you are not committing crimes, why are you afraid of surveillance?"

"How can a gentleman be under constant surveillance by Xiaoxiao!"

Han Qi was also angry, but Zhao Fang sneered without fear at all: "Do you think all the officials in Privy Han are gentlemen?"

No one dared to answer this, it was not that shameless. Although everyone here considered themselves to be gentlemen, and they often used the words and deeds of gentlemen to remind themselves, after all, they were still far from being gentlemen.

Being a Confucian gentleman is not so easy to achieve. There are many people who can't do the simplest thing.

Not to mention the difficulty of not cheating in the darkroom. As long as you are sure that no one knows about it and you don't have to bear the consequences, the evil in many people's hearts will awaken. "Does King Wei know that the Imperial City Bureau has even interfered with people's prison sentences and usurped the yamen's right to hear cases?"

Fu Bi thought for a while and said something to change the stalemate between the father-in-law and his father-in-law.

Zhao Fang nodded seriously when he heard this and said: "Yes, what Mr. Fu said is indeed the fault of the Imperial City Division, but this can be changed, and even restrict them in the system."

"Oh, King Wei also supports restricting their rights?"

Fan Zhongyan opened his mouth and asked solemnly.

Zhao Fang nodded in agreement with him and said sternly: "Since ancient times, prisons have their own laws and regulations. No one is allowed to interfere with the justice of the law. If a prince violates the law, he is as guilty as the people. How can there be a government office that can override it?"

Hearing this, Han Qi's expression softened, and he nodded and asked, "Does King Wei mean that the Imperial City Department will also implement the New Deal?"

"This old guy is really amazing. He knows the elegant music when he hears a song."

Zhao Fang secretly slandered his father-in-law and said seriously: "Restore the Imperial City Department of the Taizu Dynasty. Its responsibilities are limited to supervising hundreds of officials, spying on military intelligence, arresting and interrogating the spies of other countries, guarding the palace, and abolishing its right to interrogate illegal officials. Participation in local prisons will never be tolerated."

Everyone frowned when he said this, and even Zhao Zhen shook his head and said: "The rights and responsibilities mentioned by the eldest brother are indeed good, but restoring the establishment of the great ancestor is not good! There are too many people, how can we ensure financial resources!"

Zhao Fang immediately retorted: "Father's words don't make sense. When the Taizu was waiting for prosperity, he could do it, but now he can't do it?"

"That's when Taizu transformed the imperial army into members of the Imperial City Department."

"We are the same. We still get the same military pay, so why not?"

"This……"

Zhao Zhen hesitated. Back then, Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin established the Wude Division and directly transferred more than 4 of the most elite troops to work on the spot.

Therefore, the responsibility of the front secretary to protect the emperor was abolished, and the power of the front secretary to inspect was emptied. Otherwise, Shi Shouxin would not have handed over power so easily, because he could no longer threaten Comrade Zhao.

The first Wu De envoy was Zhao Kuangyin's confidant Wang Renzhen, who was a die-hard confidant of Lao Zhao, and then Liu Zhixin was Lao Zhao's cousin.

The third Wang Jien was the eunuch, and it was also from him that the Wude Division was renamed the Imperial City Division, and the eunuch took over the power because this guy had played a major role in Zhao Guangyi's succession.

However, as time went by, the Imperial City Division, which originally had more than 5 people, now only had more than 1 people left during the Renzong Dynasty. To restore the previous establishment, an additional 4 or [-] people would be needed.

"The army in the time of Taizu was 38, including nearly 19 forbidden troops. In Taizong's time, it was 67, and the forbidden troops were 36. In the time of my grandfather, there were 91, and the forbidden troops were 43. But now it is 120, and the forbidden troops are 82, which has doubled. Don’t you feel embarrassed about the Forbidden Army? Taizu Taizong has been at war all year round. Now except for the northwest, there is almost no danger of war. Why do we need so many Forbidden Army?"

Zhao Fang finally couldn't bear it any longer, and settled his old scores, even blaming his own father.

Zhao Zhen was really embarrassed to be told that, but he still said stubbornly: "Didn't we divert nearly 20 yuan in the past two years?"

Zhao Fang looked down upon him and said: "There are 17 people, almost all of them are Xiang troops. The Forbidden Army only went to 8000 people. How dare you say that the cost of the two armies is several times different? Don't you think dad can count?"

(End of this chapter)