I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 212 The Reform Department is listed, and the law to suppress land annexation is implemented
The third day of February.

The position of the Reform Department of the new government office was determined by Su Liang.

The location is located between Xuande Building and Youye Gate. It was renovated from a courtyard next to Jinzou Courtyard.

The place is not big, but it is close to the forbidden area and relatively secluded, making it a good place to discuss political affairs.

The fourth day of February.

A three-character plaque with the words "Reform Department" written by Zhao Zhen was hung here.

Followed by.

Wang Anshi was appointed as the official of Sansidu branch, and Sima Guang was exempted from examination and appointed as the collation of Guange.

Both of their official positions were empty.

During the entire Song Dynasty's political reform, they would stay in the Reform Department throughout the whole process.

The fifth day of February.

Fan Zhongyan, the political affairs minister, Wang Yaochen, the envoy of the third division, Liang Shi, the privy scholar, Su Liang, the censor and miscellaneous officer, Wang Anshi, the branch official of the third division, and Sima Guang, the collation officer, moved to the Reform Department.

In addition, Zhao Zhen arranged for more than thirty officials to be responsible for copying and transmitting documents, presenting information, doing chores within the department, and eating and drinking for everyone.

He will also be working here regularly.

Here, everyone only needs to concentrate on thinking about reforms, and the court will arrange all other chores.

The reform of the entire Song Dynasty was destined to be a long and cumbersome affair.

Naturally, Su Liang and others would not spend day and night thinking about new methods. Their holidays and office hours were the same as before.

Moreover, there is also an extra salary.

However, it is impossible for a workaholic like Wang Anshi to go shopping in Goulan and listen to a song during his break.

It hurt him more than killing him.

He was destined to be a figure who devoted his life to the cause of political reform in the Song Dynasty.

The energy generated by this foursome combination of Fan Zhongyan, Su Liang, Wang Anshi, and Sima Guang exceeded everyone's imagination.

The depth of knowledge, political knowledge, strategic wisdom, and moral character are all of the highest quality.

Especially the efficiency of doing things and the way of communication made Wang Yaochen, the envoy of the Third Secretary, and Liang Shi, the privy scholar, say: Inhumane!
If these four people are in charge of the three departments or the Privy Council.

It is estimated that a month's affairs can be completed in an orderly manner in three to five days.

The efficiency is amazing.

……

The tenth day of February.

The Reform Department promulgated the first reform policy: the Law to Suppress the Acquisition of Acres.

"Measure and inventory land, curb vicious mergers, set different tax amounts based on the quality and quantity of acres, and encourage landlords and merchants to return land to the people."

In the past, court decrees were transmitted to various states and governments through Di Bao.

But this time, in addition to the Di newspaper, under Su Liang's suggestion, Zhao Zhen ordered all localities to publish the reform strategy in the Zhoufu newspaper.

It is important that all the people know why the land annexation suppression law is implemented and what the specific content of this law is.

In this way, the phenomenon of abusing laws and regulations for personal gain in some places is avoided.

It also solves the sentence that Wang Anshi often talks about: The Bodhisattva is good, but he is afraid that the monk will recite the sutra crookedly.

After the land annexation law was promulgated, the people were rejoicing.

None of the merchants and landlords who were about to sell their land complained. The imperial court had already given them a heads up when implementing the official strategy of attracting business.

They are mentally prepared, and many landowners and gentry have sold their fields long ago.

Of course, there are also those who are dissatisfied with this policy.

This kind of people are profiteers who make money by exploiting tenant farmers to farm their land, and at the same time make loan sharks when they are desperate.

It is this kind of people that the court wants to suppress.

They come to the money unjustly, and it is the court's duty to cut off their means of obtaining wealth.

This time, the Cao family, as the head of the family, once again set an example.

Sell ​​a large amount of fertile land and return it to the people.

Relatives outside the clan are entitled to partial tax exemption. This not only benefits the people, but also enriches the country.

After the Cao family set an example, other relatives in the clan also followed suit.

Although some people don't want to, they have to do it because the current situation has completely changed.

at the same time. The imperial examination and provincial examination in Bianjing City will also be held.

The direction of this test question still continues the previous year's "emphasis on policy theory and light on poetry and poetry", with the aim of selecting talented people who will be useful to the court.

What Zhao Zhen and the ministers expected was that after the promulgation of the land annexation law, many small business people in Kaifeng Prefecture began to purchase land.

To everyone's surprise, the people did not give up doing business after buying the land.

At that time, everyone believed that after people had land, commerce would naturally decline. If there were huge problems with the flow of commerce, the court would have to lower commercial taxes to save it.

But from the current point of view, this policy has not had much impact on the business situation of Kaifeng Prefecture.

All worries are unnecessary.

Su Liang never understood the reason behind this.

It was not until he returned home that he told his father-in-law Tang Ze about the matter. Tang Ze's words made him suddenly enlightened.

"Don't think of the common people as farmers. The common people are mixed families. They can farm, fish, be carpenters, blacksmiths, or businessmen."

People's livelihood directions are diversified.

After they own the land, they still want to make their families live a better life, so they will not give up the business in hand.

Just go home and harvest when the farming season is busy.

Owning the land gave them stability and a home.

The business in their hands allows them to change their destiny or let their children change their destiny.

If life were not hopeless, the people would not risk their lives to rebel.

Now, this law to suppress land annexation has gradually brought light to the eyes of the people at the bottom.

……

February 22nd, in the afternoon, the sun was shining brightly.

Fan Zhongyan, Wang Yaochen, Liang Shi, Su Liang, Wang Anshi and Sima Guang were sitting by the stone platform in the courtyard, basking in the sun.

This is the health-preserving method that Wen Yanbo taught everyone.

If it is a sunny and cold day and you often sit for a long time without moving, it is best to spend half an hour in the sun around noon every day.

It not only relieves fatigue, but also strengthens the body and prolongs life.

No one knows whether it will be effective, but it is indeed comfortable to be basking in the warm sunshine in this weather.

at this time.

There was a sudden sound of footsteps not far away.

Everyone didn't even need to look up to know that Ouyang Xiu was coming.

Since the establishment of the Reform Department, Ouyang Xiu has often come to visit, claiming that he can polish everyone's articles, but in fact he is here to chat.

The two people he admires most, Fan Zhongyan and Su Liang, are here; the two people he admires the most, Wang Anshi and Sima Guang, are also here.

Ouyang Xiu walked up to the crowd excitedly and said, "Everyone, I have some great news for you today."

Su Liang and others looked at Ouyang Xiu at the same time.

"There is news from Hebei Road that Liao Emperor Yelu Zongzhen personally led the army to attack Xia in three directions, and will start an all-out war with Xixia!"

"It is said that a large part of the reason was that Yelu Zongzhen saw the funny play between Yelu Qing, the special envoy of the Liao Kingdom, and Yang Huaisu, the special envoy of the Xixia State, scolding each other."

Hearing this, Fan Zhongyan and the other six stood up excitedly.

This is really good news.

If Liao and Xia fought against each other, the northwest border of the Song Dynasty and the border of Hebei would be safe.

In this way, the reforms of the Song Dynasty would not be affected in any way.

You must know that a war is enough to destroy all laws and regulations. Reform is like practicing behind closed doors. Only by not being disturbed can you get twice the result with half the effort.

This battle was also expected by Su Liang.

The Liao army has always considered itself to be the most powerful in the world. After losing to Xixia in the Battle of Hequ, Yelvzong was in a similar situation to Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty in the Battle of Gaoliang River, and was almost captured.

Naturally, the good-looking Yelu Zong couldn't bear such a shame and humiliation, and Xixia repeatedly harassed the border, which made the Liao Kingdom even more angry.

Nowadays, there is civil strife in Xixia and the king is young, so it is a great opportunity for revenge.

"Today, I, the Song Dynasty, have almost taken advantage of the right time, place, and people. I hope that the Song Dynasty's reform will have a good result." Su Liang murmured.

　Note: Historical records indicate that in the 18th year of Chongxi of the Liao Dynasty (the first year of Emperor You of the Song Dynasty), Yelu Zongzhen sent troops to attack Xia in three directions, and the second battle of Helan Mountain in Liao and Xia broke out.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)