Song Gexing

Chapter 89 Three Strategies to Benefit the People
Zhao Zhen finally smiled when he saw his eyes, nodded approvingly and said: "Looking back now, you understand, the emperor's way not only makes the people rich, but also makes the people return to simplicity. The colorful clothes and feathers are too prosperous, so we can only Folk customs lead to extravagance, which can be said to be a tune that flourishes but then declines. It can only be shelved in a high cabinet and should not be spread outside."

Zhao Fang sincerely admitted his mistake and solemnly bowed his hands and said: "My son was wrong. He allowed this song to be spread. Please punish me."

Zhao Zhen waved his hand and said: "Forget it, as long as my son knows the truth, it's just a piece of music."

Several ministers who had been watching the argument between his father and son began to praise him one after another: "Officials teach their children to be rational and emotional, and they can set an example for the world."

Zhao Zhen was so happy that he couldn't open his mouth from ear to ear, but Zhao Fang quietly rolled his eyes at those people. Anyway, there were only two or three people here that he liked, and he didn't care about the others.

As mentioned earlier, the prime minister and assistant ministers of the Song Dynasty could not always serve. The current prime minister is still Yan Shu, because he came to power relatively late.

Privy Councilor Pang Ji has only been serving for more than two years. Among the other two, Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi, one went to the northwest and the other to the north.

Of course, it was also because of this military reform that they needed to be in charge personally. They still retained the title of Privy Councilor, but their actual work was that of pacification envoy.

Bao Zheng was promoted to Yushi Zhongcheng and Longtuge Grand Bachelor, one level higher than the direct bachelor in history.

Wang Gongchen was promoted to the Imperial Academy, Fu Bi was appointed to participate in political affairs, and Ouyang Xiu and others went to the Sixth Department to take charge of specific work, so they had no time to accompany Zhao Zhen here.

Zhao Fang dislikes Ding Du and others who are present now, and it is because these people made trouble for him in the first place, which he can remember firmly.

"By the way, Dad, the two Zhejiang roads have been experiencing drought since the beginning of autumn last year, and there is still no rain at the beginning of spring this year. I'm afraid the disaster has already occurred. I wonder if there is a memorial to mention this?"

Zhao Fang originally wanted to leave, but Fan Zhongyan suddenly remembered the famine in Wuzhong in the second year of Huangyou. Historically, it was him in Hangzhou who solved the tragedy of a large number of people starving to death.

But now that Lao Fan is in the northwest, without his ability to do things with ease, who knows if others have that ability.

In ancient times, transportation was inconvenient and the people had no food surplus. If the harvest was confiscated in one quarter, people might starve to death. If there was a drought for one or two years, the land would definitely be starved to death.

Now he was anxious and asked about the matter quickly. He didn't dare to slack off when his life was at stake.

Liang Shi, the political advisor to the Council, frowned and said, "May I ask where the King of Wei got the news about the Liangzhe Road? There were reports of last year's drought, but there was no fleeing of the victims. It's just the beginning of spring this year, so it shouldn't be a problem."

Strictly speaking, the spring season has not yet begun in the north, but Hangzhou has a Jiangnan climate, and the mountains are covered with green leaves before the Qingming Festival.

Fujian and Guangdong are earlier, with peach blossoms blooming in the first month of the year, while Zhejiang is a little later, with spring beginning in February. Although they are at the same latitude as Jiangsu, the climate is warmer than Jiangsu because Zhejiang is a coastal city.

"Don't you all read newspapers? I have founded newspapers for so many years. Do you think they are just for propaganda? We can get information about people's livelihood and happenings everywhere. Do you think they are just stories?"

He asked three questions in a row, making everyone blush. The newspaper has matured since it was launched in the early Qingli period. Everyone actually has the habit of reading newspapers, but no one pays attention to other functions of newspapers.

Everyone takes it for granted that newspapers are just a carrier to publicize policies and stories about the entertainment of ordinary people, and then they are a place for businesses to advertise widely.

Everyone did not pay attention to the local news published in newspapers, and was still accustomed to relying on the official Di newspaper of the imperial court.

Of course, only the newspapers from Liangzhe Road will publish the news there, but where is Bianjing? People from all over the place move the most frequently, and outsiders come in almost every day.Almost every one of the merchants had one to take with them for entertainment on the road, and people's curiosity also made the merchants willing to bring more, and then sell them to the locals or give them to their friends.

Zhao Fang had seen a newspaper from Guangdong a few days ago. It was Yuan Kan who brought it when he went to the north to take the imperial examination.

Moreover, this spring is the Jinshi Department, and scholars from all over the country will almost take newspapers with them on the road. This has become a pastime.

Of course, Zhao Fang also made a lot of money. He founded this thing. Every branch in each state would leave a share of the profits to him. At the same time, he would also use his name to avoid being extorted by local officials and local tyrants and evil gentry.

Whoever dares to extort the crown prince's property would risk his life, so Zhao Fang is now very rich, and he often takes care of all the expenses of his younger brothers and sisters.

Zhao Zhen was also anxious now. He was a benevolent king and he hated the people to starve to death. He quickly urged the political hall to find out the matter as soon as possible and prepare disaster relief supplies.

"Father, I think it's time to build reserve granaries in various places. In recent years, finances have been much more relaxed, and border wars have subsided. People's livelihood needs to be universally beneficial."

Zhao Fang had thought about this a few years ago, but due to the immature conditions, the Song Dynasty actually had granary reserves, but they were not widespread.

It is only available in important areas, and it is not done in vast areas. This is not as good as the Sui Dynasty.

After hearing what he said, Zhao Zhen hurriedly asked: "Brother, if you have any specific suggestions, please tell me and let's take a look."

Zhao Fang nodded and said: "First, states and even counties should build reserve granaries of different sizes and replace them with new grain every year to ensure that when a natural disaster strikes, at least the local population will have two months of food rations."

"Secondly, each state should establish nursing homes to accommodate orphaned elderly people and orphaned children, so that the elderly can have support and the young have someone to rely on."

"Third, we encourage folk medicine to travel. The imperial court compiles and publishes a medical dictionary of herbal medicines and folk remedies, focusing on folk remedies and herbal medicines that can be found everywhere in the countryside, so that people do not have to travel long distances when they are sick, and minor illnesses can be treated in their own hometowns and villages. Get healed."

"Your Majesty's benevolence! This is a great deal!"

Pang Ji was the first to stand up and praise loudly. Ding Du rolled his eyes and said, "The policy is a good one, but does Prime Minister Pang know how much food it will cost?"

Yan Shu pondered for a while, nodded and said, "It's feasible to implement these things after tightening your belt for a few years. After all, this is something that benefits all people."

Liang Shi frowned and objected: "That's true, but the cost is huge. I'm afraid it can't be achieved by tightening the rules for a few years."

Zhao Zhen thought for a while and said: "You can do it one by one. I think the three things that the elder brother said can be done immediately. The third one can be done immediately. It doesn't cost a lot to compile the medical classics."

Ding Du and others did not dare to object. This matter did not cost much. The best doctors in the Song Dynasty were all in Bianjing, and they all received salaries. It was their duty to let them compile medical books.

Seeing that they had no objection, Zhao Zhen continued: "The first thing can be done in wealthy areas first, or we can build storage granaries first. It doesn't cost too much, right?"

(End of this chapter)