I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 227 Su Liang’s strategy, the scam of low-level officials

Dusk is approaching.

Su Liang and his party finally arrived in Dongming County.

Kaifeng Prefecture governs four counties, namely Kaifeng County, Xiangfu County, Dongming County and Suanzao County.

Because it is close to Bianjing, merchants and travelers often settle in the suburbs of Beijing.

This makes the commerce in each county more prosperous and the wealth level is much better than that of other counties.

However, the gap between the rich and the poor is also very large. The rich are burdened with millions, while the poor are left with dregs.

In towns and villages, the majority are still poor.

The family strength of a fifth-class family like Ge Shitou has far exceeded that of some sharecropping families without land.

……

That night.

A private room in an inn in Dongming County.

Fan Zhongyan, Wang Yaochen, Liang Shi, Su Liang, Wang Anshi and Sima Guang gathered together.

Wherever these six people are, there is the Reform Department.

Fan Zhongyan looked at Su Liang and said, "Jingming, you initiated this matter, and Jiefu and Junshi are the most familiar with rural matters. Next, we will listen to the arrangements of you three young people."

This is Fan Zhongyan's mind and pattern.

If Xia Song comes here.

That was definitely a big wave of his hand, just allowing others to listen to him.

Su Liang thought for a moment and said, "My arrangement is that early tomorrow morning, we will divide into two groups."

"Fan Gong, Ji Xiang (the third envoy, whose status is slightly lower than that of participating in political affairs), and Liang Xueshi went to Dongming County to transfer the fifth-class book; I, Jiefu, and Junshi took Ge Shitou with them. Gezhai Village.”

Wang Yaochen was stunned.

"Jing Ming, are you telling the truth? How can we three old guys run errands for such a trivial matter as transferring the fifth-class register? Besides, when the three of us show up, wouldn't it alert all the officials in Dongming County? The noise made was too great and could easily disturb the people."

Su Liang smiled slightly and said: "To catch big fish, you must have good bait. No one can replace the role of the three of you."

In the morning.

Su Liang is probably the only one who can call them bait in front of Fan Zhongyan, Wang Yaochen and Liang Shi.

The three of them knew that Su Liang must have another plan, so they couldn't help but look at him.

Su Liang continued: "The three of us went to the Dongming County government office to attract the attention of Dongming County officials. If they asked them for a fifth-class book, it was impossible for them not to give it to us. But for the three of us to ask for it, it would not necessarily be possible." Got it!"

"When the three of you get the fifth-class book, tell Wu Nan, the magistrate of Dongming County, and Xu Dayou, the county prime minister, that you are going to Changshui Village."

"Changshui Village?"

Privy Councilor Liang Shi looked puzzled, not knowing what Su Liang was planning.

"Yes, let's go to Changshui Village first."

"Changshui Village and Gezhai Village are adjacent, and the economic conditions of the people in the two villages are almost the same."

"If my prediction is correct, the officials of Dongming County will definitely decorate Changshui Village and let the three of them visit. After visiting Changshui Village, the three suddenly said they wanted to visit Gezhai Village. By then , they will definitely take the opportunity to delay, and then send people to decorate Gezhai Village. At that time, we will seize the stolen goods first, and then let the three of us see what the real Gezhai Village looks like!"

Liang Shi didn't believe it and said, "Jingming, it's impossible! The efficiency of rural officials has always been very low. How can they have the manpower to make false claims in such a short period of time?"

At this time, Wang Anshi explained: "In the village, every villager is an informant of the government. It can even be said that they are people of the government. They have to obey orders from above. Because their parents live in the village, their children They live in the village, and they have to live in the village for the rest of their lives!”

When Fan Zhongyan, Wang Yaochen, and Liang Shi heard this sentence, they suddenly understood.

The main reason why local officials dared to deceive superior officials was to control the weak spots of the people at the bottom, that is, their families.

"Are the officials in the county and town so bad? Dare they commit fraud? Are they desperate for their lives?" Wang Yaochen frowned.

Sima Guang said: "Ji Prime Minister. Currently, among the four county magistrates in Kaifeng, only Wu Nan, the magistrate of Dongming County, is still an elected official. He is at the point of promotion. For the sake of his official career, he must ensure that Dongming County is better than other counties. , most of the counties and towns in the Song Dynasty currently have data false reporting, but the severity is different."

At this time, Fan Zhongyan stood up and said: "After visiting Changshui Village and Gezhai Village tomorrow, if there are any fraud issues like what Jing Ming mentioned, we will treat this matter as the top priority of the Reform Department."

Everyone nodded.

They came here not only to solve the problems of the people in Dongming County, but to cure the problems that existed in all villages in the Song Dynasty.    …

Early the next morning, everyone set off in two groups.

A quarter of an hour later.

Outside the Dongming County Yamen Gate, Cao Hu reported the names of Fan Zhongyan and the other three to the Yamen Gate.

The two government officials at the county government office were dumbfounded after hearing the name.

A government official rubbed his eyes, looked at Fan Zhongyan and the other three people in front of the carriage, and said with some disbelief: "The second-in-command of Zhongshu Province, the first-in-command of the Third Department, and the third-in-command of the Privy Council are all...all here?"

"What are you doing standing there in a daze? Go and report it immediately!" Cao Hu scolded him coldly.

Immediately, a government official ran to report.

After a while.

Two middle-aged men in official uniforms ran over quickly.

The one at the front, who is relatively thin, is Wu Nan, the magistrate of Dongming County; the other, who is relatively fat, is the county magistrate, Xu Dayou.

The two of them saw Fan Zhongyan and the others at a glance.

"I will see you, Prime Minister Fan, Prime Minister Ji, and Bachelor Liang!" They both raised their hands.

They had met Fan Zhongyan and the others, but Fan Zhongyan and the others did not recognize them.

"Come into the yamen and talk!" Fan Zhongyan said in a calm tone, and then entered the county yamen followed by a group of guards.

Wu Nan and Xu Dayou's faces were covered with sweat.

Zhongshu Provincial Councilor for Political Affairs, Third Secretary of State, and a direct bachelor of the Privy Council. He also went to the county government of Dongming County.

This has never happened.

After a while.

Fan Zhongyan and the other three were sitting in the front hall, while the county magistrate Wu Nan and the county prime minister Xu Dayou stood aside.

Fan Zhongyan said: "Xu County Magistrate, Xu County Cheng, fetch the county's fifth-class book."

When they heard the words "Fifth Class Book", they knew it was about the new law.

Wu Nan rolled his eyes, thought for a moment and said, "Xiang Fan, the fifth-class book is under investigation and revision. I'm afraid it will take at least half a month before it can be submitted."

I have to say that Wu Nan is an old fox.

After learning that Fan Zhongyan and the others wanted to investigate the fifth-class book, they immediately told a lie.

Snapped!

Wang Yaochen patted the table and glared: "If the fifth-class book cannot be placed on this table within half a quarter of an hour, you two can just resign!"

As soon as these words came out, the two of them became anxious.

The fifth-class book measures the number of land taxes, and the third division has the power to oversee and supervise.

The third minister asked them for it.

If they don't give it, they are disobeying their orders, and their career is really over.

County Prime Minister Xu Dayou immediately said: "Prime Minister, I'm going to get it... I'm going to get it... I'm going to get it now, I'm going to get it now!"

Not long after, Dongming County's fifth-class book appeared on the table.

After Fan Zhongyan saw the information about Gezhai Village and Changshui Village, he immediately said: "You two, come with us to Changshui Village to take a look."

"Xiang Fan, if we go to Changshui Village at this time, I'm afraid it will be early afternoon. Do you want to eat some food first before going!"

"No need!" Fan Zhongyan stood up expressionlessly.

"I...the two of us will prepare carriages and horses right now!" Wu Nan gave a look to the Yamen servant beside him.

The latter understood immediately and walked quickly outside.

(End of this chapter)