I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 235 Rewards and punishments are the way to govern a country

On June 19, in the Chui Gong Hall.

Su Liang made a detailed report to Zhao Zhen on the development progress of the firearms workshop and talked about the problem of lack of sulfur.

"Officials and the Liao State also have a method of manufacturing firearms. Although the sale of sulfur and flame salt is prohibited in the market, private sales among private parties are repeatedly prohibited, and supervision should be strengthened. Secondly, I suggest that the frequency and quantity of sulfur purchased from overseas be greatly increased. The more, the merrier!”

Zhao Zhen nodded.

"As for the ban on selling, you can just communicate with the three envoys. As for sulfur, I will issue an edict to the shipping departments of various cities to urge shipping merchants to increase their purchasing efforts."

The Municipal Shipping Department governs overseas trade.

Port cities such as Quanzhou, Hangzhou, Mingzhou, and Mizhou all have municipal shipping departments.

"I...I suggest that the officials personally appoint a group of imperial city officials to disguise themselves as shipping merchants and specialize in buying sulfur!" Su Liang looked at Zhao Zhen with a smile on his face.

Zhao Zhen was stunned for a moment, and then couldn't help laughing.

"Su Jingming, you are trying to drag me into trouble!"

The firearms workshop is affiliated to Baijia College.

If the Imperial City Division were directly involved, then Zhao Zhen would be a veritable dean of hundreds of colleges.

Su Liang said shamelessly: "The officials are joking. You are the dean after all. If you can do this, the efficiency will be higher. If we want to defeat the Liao and Xia cavalry, we must be much better than them in firearm manufacturing." !”

Zhao Zhen thought for a while and nodded in approval.

"Okay, I agreed, but Baijia Academy must not have problems like last time again, do you understand?"

"I understand, I should supervise it carefully!" Su Liang handed over his hands heavily.

At this time.

Su Liang suddenly said again: "Guan family, the money to buy sulfur should come from the Cao family?"

Zhao Zhen made a move as if he wanted to hit Su Liang and said, "Are you looking for another fight? Of course I will pay for it!"

"Thank you, Dean!"

Su Liang handed over his hand again, this was what he wanted.

Su Liang had many connections to buy sulfur in large quantities, and the Cao family was not short of money.

But he always gives officials a chance to perform.

In the future, when tubular firearms become more popular, the government must take the lion's share of the credit, and in the future, firearms must also be under the direct control of the government.

Otherwise, big problems may easily occur.

Su Liang is like a bright mirror.

Fight what should be fought, and avoid what shouldn't be fought.

Throughout the ages, Huai Bi has been guilty of too many things.

Zhao Zhen was amused by the sound of "dean".

How could he not know what Su Liang was thinking, but he liked Su Liang's intelligence.

……

June 24th.

The Farmland Equalization Tax Law and the Farmland Water Conservancy Law were officially promulgated.

Square field equalization tax law.

That is to say, the land is re-measured and verified, and then the quality of the geology is used as the main basis for collecting land taxes.

In fact, in early February, when the land annexation suppression law was implemented, various state capitals had already begun measuring land.

Now that the legal policy has been introduced, it is more about counting the land concealed by some wealthy households and gentry, making the information on land acres more accurate and reducing tax evasion.

Farmland Water Conservancy Law.

That is to expand water conservancy projects, promote agricultural development, and increase farm income.

This method will serve as the main performance appraisal content for local officials.

In addition, due to the implementation of the exemption law, people had something to do and make money during the slack period.

There was almost no opposition to these two reform policies, and they were far less difficult to implement than the Young Crops Law and the Elimination of Service Law.

……

The third day of July.

Officials from the two prefectures, three divisions, Taijian, Xueshiyuan and other major yamen once again gathered in Chui Gong Hall.

The theme of this political discussion is: The "100-Day Official Examination Policy" is about to expire on July 10, and whether it needs to be postponed.

Censor Zhongcheng Tang Jie took the lead and strode out.

"Officials, since the implementation of the "One Hundred Days Examination Policy for Officials", the efficiency of government offices in various places has been extremely high. One day is as good as the past five days. Some officials are not without talent, they are just lazy. I believe that the policy of reform is As the promulgation continues, the official duties are increasing day by day, so we cannot slack off on this matter. I suggest that it be continued again!"

Tang Jie just finished speaking.

Zhang Fangping stood up.

"Tang Zhongcheng, you know that because of the officials who succeeded in the examination, except for the officials who falsely reported their political achievements and were punished and dismissed, there have been more than a hundred people who have resigned, and the number is still increasing. Many officials still cannot bear this intensity. I suggest that it is best to Stop for a while and try again next year!”

"If you are incompetent, what if you resign? We have no shortage of good officials in the Song Dynasty. Don't stop. Once you stop, it will be difficult to create an atmosphere of doing things like this!" Tang Jie retorted.

At this time, Ouyang Xiu came out.

"I also suggest that the implementation be postponed. There are still various problems in the reform, and this is not the time to stop."

Wen Yanbo stood up and said: "I suggest that this policy be suspended. The longer this policy lasts, the worse the effect will be. Once officials feel that this is the norm, I am afraid they will not go all out to do it, and it may even be possible." The backlash has made many officials lazy in their administration!” ˈˈˆˆ “I agree with the opinion of Prime Minister Wen, we must take a break. Some officials have not seen their parents, wives and children for three months. Reform cannot be done in one day, and the pace must not be too tight! "Song Xiang also said.

……

For a while, the ministers started arguing again.

Both those who support the extension and those who oppose it have their reasons.

Su Liang did not speak.

He felt that it could be postponed or not, as long as the officials decided on the result.

Zhao Zhen sat on it and observed the officials.

It didn't take long to figure it out.

All the ministers of the two prefectures and three departments were opposed to the extension, while Taijian and Xueshiyuan all supported the extension.

The two sides have opposite opinions.

This is because since the implementation of the examination policy, many complaints from local officials have come to the two governments and three departments. The husbands of the two governments and three departments are even more aware of the difficulties at the bottom.

However, Tai Jian and Xueshiyuan considered the effectiveness of the reform entirely.

At this time, it is necessary to show the decisive courage of an emperor.

"Okay, everyone, just be quiet!"

Zhao Zhen looked at the ministers and said: "I think we can stop for a while, but we can't stop for too long. Let's wait until mid-September to launch another 100-day test strategy, which can be extended until the end of the year."

Pause for about two months and then continue until the end of the year.

All officials basically accept it.

At this time, Xia Song stood up and said: "Guan family, after passing the 100-day examination, some officials performed particularly well. The court cannot punish without reward. I suggest giving generous rewards to some officials with outstanding political achievements to show the official family's performance." Kindness, rewards and punishments are clear!”

Zhao Zhen's eyes lit up, this was a good idea.

All the ministers in the palace, including Su Liang, nodded their heads and approved of this proposal.

At this moment, Wang Yaochen, the envoy of the Third Division, suddenly walked out quickly.

"thump!"

Because he was walking too fast, Wang Yaochen tripped one foot over the other and fell to the ground.

All the officials were shocked.

Ouyang Xiu and Tang Jie on the side quickly went to help him.

Wang Yaochen stood up and said: "Officials, please don't reward us generously. We can't reward you generously anymore. The treasury cannot hold on!"

After hearing this, all the officials couldn't help laughing.

Zhao Zhen has always been generous and likes to reward officials the most.

There is even a reward of one carriage and one carriage. In addition, there will also be rewards of houses, fields, etc.

For example: Zhao Zongshi and Su Liang have received rewards ten times more than their annual salaries in the past two years.

Rewards have become an important expenditure of the national treasury.

Although the current state treasury is better than in the past, there are many places to spend money.

After Wang Yaochen stood up, he said again: "Officials, just now...I lost my temper just now. What I meant was to reward the officials with money and property. It did not inspire the officials to serve the country, but instead made them develop extravagant habits!"

"How can you show the grace of an official if you don't reward him, and how can you motivate officials to work hard for the court? Third Secretary, are you living in the eyes of money?" Xia Song said dissatisfied.

At this time, Su Liang stood up slowly.

"Officials, if I think they should be rewarded, I must reward them. However, there is no need to reward generously with property. The period of grinding and surveying can be shortened based on the official's performance. In addition, the official can give a royal letter, which is more precious than property!"

"This is a great idea, let's do it! Just do it!" Zhao Zhen agreed immediately.

Zhao Zhen loves Fei Baishu.

Rewarding officials with his "Royal Letter" will make him happy and so will the officials, and it will not harm the court's face.

And shorten the grinding and survey period.

It allows officials with outstanding political performance to be promoted quickly and do more for the court.

Xia Song returned to his seat somewhat depressed.

He made suggestions, but Su Liang took the credit.

Zhang Fangping looked at Su Liang and murmured: "This is the highest level of flattering an official, and it makes everyone feel comfortable!"

……

The tenth day of July.

The two governments announced that the first round of the "Hundred Days Examination for Officials" has officially ended.

The court will rank the top 18 local officials based on their political performance.

Among them, the first to third place will shorten the period of grinding and surveying by one year and be awarded an official imperial letter; the fourth to eighth place will shorten the period of half a year of grinding and survey and be awarded an official imperial letter; the ninth to tenth place will be awarded an official imperial letter For eight people, the period of grinding and surveying was shortened to three months, and the officials were given royal letters.

The officials were all excited about this unexpected reward.

This also gives many officials who want to advance in their official careers more motivation.

Some even look forward to the next period of grinding and surveying coming as soon as possible.

(End of this chapter)