I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 243 Xia Song lacks admiration, Su Jingming is blown up to the clouds

September th.

The second round of the "One Hundred Days Examination for Officials" was officially implemented throughout the Song Dynasty.

Various yamen in Bianjing City.

Like a fierce horse that was suddenly whipped, it instantly entered a sprint state.

Some people want to be promoted in their official career, some people want to keep their official positions, some people want to avoid entering the shame-conscious hall, some people want to have a high salary...

But whatever the reason.

The one-hundred-day test policy made the usually lazy scholar-bureaucrats and officials become diligent.

Even Xia Song, who is sixty-five years old, is competing with the five-piece suit of longevity while handling the official affairs of the Privy Council.

This kind of rhythm makes officials like Bao Zheng, Tang Jie, and Wang Anshi who "serve the public affairs day and night and regard political affairs as their lives" very happy.

As the efficiency of lower officials increases, they can do more.

……

present.

The Yushitai and the Reform Department almost jointly handle official affairs.

Because many of the problems reported in the post mailbox are almost all related to the reform strategy.

Some people reported that local states and counties were lazy and ineffective.

Some people sued the local county magistrate and Li Zheng for defrauding them of their exemption money.

Some people said they were forced to borrow money from young people.

Some people also accused big businessmen of manipulating prices.

……

Any matter that is contrary to the reform regulations will be investigated to the end by the Reform Department and Yushitai.

We will arrest when we should, and we will judge when we should, until the matter is completely resolved.

It benefited from Zhao Zhen's partiality towards the Reform Department and Yushitai in "Wang Anshi's Three Inadequacies".

The scholar-bureaucrats were afraid of the power of the Reform Department and Yushitai, and the degree of cooperation was much higher than in the past.

This makes many things much more efficient.

at the same time.

The promotion of Qizhou Prefecture has been reviewed by the two prefectures and three departments, and will be officially changed to Jinan Prefecture on the first day of the first lunar month next year.

The administrative seat of Jingdong Road will also be moved from Qingzhou to Jinan Prefecture, but Qingzhou will still be the military center of Jingdong Road.

……

September th.

Just when all the officials in the Reform Department thought that this year's reform had stabilized and there would be no more trouble.

Another accident happened.

It was a huge accident that no one expected.

Su Shunyuan, the magistrate of Yangzhou, submitted a memorial stating that due to the rapid reform, Yangzhou City had a serious money shortage problem.

Why the money shortage?

That is to say, the shortage of coins can no longer satisfy commodity transactions, making things light and money heavy.

The problem of money shortage has been recurring since the rise of commerce in the middle of the Tang Dynasty and the use of currency became more and more frequent.

Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, money bans have been implemented.

That is to say, merchants were strictly prohibited from carrying copper coins out of the country, and private citizens were strictly prohibited from destroying money and making utensils without permission.

But the results are minimal.

Because copper is expensive and cheap, if you melt ten coins, you can get one tael of refined copper, which can be used to make utensils and make five times the profit.

This led to many people taking desperate risks and making bronze wares privately.

In addition, the temple's production of Buddha statues, ritual instruments, etc. also consumes a lot of copper.

There are many other problems leading to money shortage.

For example, rich families like to store coins. Some rich families use 100,000 yuan to maintain their treasury and keep it untouched for decades.

For example, there was a large outflow of copper coins. The surrounding Liao Kingdom, Xixia, Japan, and Goryeo all liked the copper coins of the Song Dynasty. They often exchanged goods for money, and one ship could carry tens of thousands of them.

The imperial court also took some measures, such as replacing the functions of copper coins with silk, silk, silver, Jiaozi, Dudu, etc.

But due to transportation and court credit problems, the effect was not very good.

And this time.

The reform movement throughout the Song Dynasty became a trigger that led to the money shortage.

The policy of suppressing land annexation made commerce more prosperous and the consumption of money increased day by day.

The Young Crops Law and the Immunity Law caused a large amount of private copper coins to flow, gradually being lost to the outside world or entering the homes of wealthy merchants.

Su Shunyuan, the magistrate of Yangzhou.

He was the eldest brother of Su Shunqin who died young and drank wine with Han books.

Known for his honesty and integrity, he has made great achievements in local governance.

He stated in his memorial that the main reason for the money shortage in Yangzhou was the frequent overseas trade in recent times and the large flow of youth money and exempt money.

He said that without the help of the imperial court, Yangzhou City may not be able to recover by the beginning of next year.

Money shortage is extremely harmful to people's livelihood.

It will lower prices, paralyze commerce and trade, and make life even more difficult for the people at the bottom.

The money shortage cannot be entirely blamed on the reform.

But the reform was the last straw that overwhelmed the currency's operation.

…    This day.

The prime ministers of the two prefectures and the three departments, members of the Reform Department, Tang Jie and Ouyang Xiu, the chief officers of Taijian, gathered in Chui Gong Hall.

Zhao Zhen frowned.

"My lords, the money shortage in Yangzhou must not be underestimated. This is not a matter of one state. If there is no good strategy to curb the money shortage, I am afraid that money shortage crises will break out in various states in the south of the Yangtze River or along the coast in the future!"

The Jiangnan or coastal areas were particularly mercantile and had a huge demand for coins. If something happened, it would definitely happen in the Jiangnan or coastal areas first.

Deputy Prime Minister Zhang Fangping came out and said: "To control the money shortage, in addition to increasing the intensity of money bans, the only way is to ask the money supervisor to increase the number of coins minted or increase the distribution of Jiaozi. However, copper mines are limited, and many places in Jiangnan do not believe in Jiaozi. The effect is It won’t be good.”

"The money shortage is caused by the prosperity of commerce and trade. The negative impact caused by the excessive use of coins by the people can only be weakened, but it is difficult to cure!"

Zhang Fangping understands the core of currency circulation in commerce, and his analysis is very thorough.

At this time, Xia Song stood up and said: "Officials and neighboring Zhou countries all use our Song Dynasty coins. They often exchange goods for coins and leave full of copper coins. It is better to ban maritime trade and implement a sea ban. After a few years, the imperial court will cast If you have enough coins, start trade again!”

Xia Song rarely answered so positively, and obviously wanted to offer suggestions and contribute to the reform.

But his words had just fallen.

The three envoys Wang Yaochen, Su Liang and Wang Anshi stood up almost at the same time, then clenched their fists and shouted excitedly: "Absolutely not!"

This voice startled Zhao Zhen and the officials below.

Xia Song's face turned dark instantly, and he felt that the three of them were targeting him.

Wang Yaochen was the first to say: "Although overseas trade has caused surrounding countries to take away copper coins, we have exchanged them for higher value items, such as pepper, spices, sulfur, etc. Generally speaking, we have taken advantage, and overseas trade We feed the people in many coastal states, but once the sea is banned, how will the people on the coast survive?"

"Overseas trade is a very important way for our country to make money, and its value is no less than that of the Silk Road. Now the Silk Road has been cut off. If maritime trade is cut off, it will be difficult to make money!" Wang Anshi added.

Su Liang also said: "Sea trade cannot be interrupted, otherwise our country will enter a state of complacency. As a big country, we should always absorb the strengths of other countries and learn from each other's strengths!"

Xia Song's eyes widened and he said unconvinced: "I have everything, why do I need anything from outside?"

Hear this.

The officials all looked at Xia Song with slight disgust, but then did not respond.

Xia Song suddenly realized that he had said the wrong thing.

These words are flattery.

If we put it in the past, when Zhang Dexiang or Jia Chang were prime ministers.

These two people will inevitably follow up with the sentence: "What Xia Shuxiang said is true. I, the great Song Dynasty, do have everything."

Then, the officials will be happy, the ministers will also be happy, and the monarch and his ministers will be able to leave the meeting in a happy mood.

But now.

The husband-in-law of the two governments and three departments rarely flatters others and whitewashes the peace.

Everyone is focused on hard work.

Xia Song suddenly said such inappropriate words, which was not only embarrassing, but also seemed to be asking for trouble.

And this time.

Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "Xia Shuxiang, we are in the palace, so there is no need to tell such lies. During the prosperous period of the Han and Tang Dynasties, we still sought help from outside. We must not cut off this road, and we must not ban the sea!" "

Zhao Zhen said this to relieve Xia Song.

"What the officials said is true." Xia Song slowly retreated into the queue.

At this moment, he suddenly felt that he had slipped from the central position of the court.

"My lords, are there any other strategies?" Zhao Zhen asked again.

Wen Yanbo strode out.

"In the official family, I thought that the money shortage was actually a false money shortage. It is not that there was no copper coin in the Song Dynasty, but copper coins were hoarded by some wealthy merchants in their own private treasury. If the money could flow from the private treasury to the people, the money would be The stool shortage can be greatly alleviated!”

"As for...as for how to make the wealthy businessmen spend money willingly, I haven't figured out a strategy yet."

After saying that, Wen Yanbo looked at Su Liang.

Followed by.

Xianggong, Ouyang Xiu, Tang Jie and others from the two governments and three departments all looked at Su Liang.

Zhao Zhen was stunned for a moment and then looked at Su Liang.

Not long ago, Su Liang adopted the strategy of "saving Wang Anshi".

Not only did he mobilize Fan Zhongyan, Ouyang Xiu and others, but even the officials were willing to cooperate with him.

This gave all the officials the idea that there was no issue in the world that Su Jingming could not solve.

Su Liang looked at the eyes of everyone who were expecting him to tell him a clever plan. After thinking about it, he said in a dumbfounded voice: "Officials, ministers...I am not omnipotent, and I don't have a good plan in mind at the moment..."

At this time.

Ouyang Xiu suddenly said: "Guan family, the money shortage in Yangzhou is the most serious now. Yangzhou is the hometown of Jingming. Why not let him go back to Yangzhou to cure the money shortage problem in Yangzhou first, and then think about solving the hidden dangers of the money shortage in the whole Song Dynasty."

After saying that, Ouyang Xiu glanced at Su Liang excitedly.

He has a mysterious trust in Su Liang.

At this moment, he was even more sure than Su Liang that Su Liang could cure Yangzhou's money shortage.

Three days ago, when Su Liang and Ouyang Xiu were drinking together, they mentioned that they missed their hometown and wanted to find a chance to go back. Ouyang Xiu took it to heart.

At this moment, Ouyang Xiu felt that he had done Su Liang a big favor, and the latter would definitely thank him.

Zhao Zhen nodded and said with a smile: "I think this is a good strategy. Su Qing, on a lucky day, you can take your family back to Yangzhou. The problem of money shortage must be eradicated. What I want is that it will not relapse." That kind of thing, don’t worry, I’ll let you bring a batch of copper coins for emergency use first.”

Su Liang looked at the expectant eyes of the ministers looking at him, and felt a little dumbfounded.

In their hearts, everyone has lifted him up into the clouds and thinks he can do anything.

This feeling of carrying the entire Song Dynasty forward made Su Liang both painful and happy.

He could only nod his hand and say: "I will live up to everyone's expectations and completely eliminate the problem of money shortage!"

When Zhao Zhen and the ministers heard this, they couldn't help but take a long breath, and they all said in their hearts: Jing Ming, you are reliable!

On the side, Xia Song had a dark face, just hoping that this court meeting would end quickly.

(End of this chapter)