I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 308 During the Shangyuan Festival, Wang Anshi and Sima Guang fought hard

The tenth day of the first lunar month.

All the officials in the court are on annual leave.

But Fan Zhongyan, Wang Yaochen, Fu Bi, Zeng Gongliang, Wang Anshi, Sima Guang and others could no longer sit still at home.

They all went to the Reform Department to discuss ways to save money.

The focus of the Song Dynasty's reform this year has only two words: saving money.

Saving money is harder than making money.

In the two years since the All-Song Reform, state treasury revenue has increased significantly.

But Sansi is still called poor.

Because there are too many holes that need money to fill.

A big family and a big business also have big expenses.

If you encounter a major natural disaster or war, you will return to poverty.

Want to save money.

Either open source or throttle.

Su Liang originally wanted to wait until the Lantern Festival before going to the Yamen to grind.

Who would have thought that Wang Yaochen, the envoy of the third division, saw that Su Liang did not come on the first day, and took a detour directly to Su Liang's house on the second day to pick up Su Liang in person.

Su Liang had no choice but to go to the Reform Bureau.

……

On the twelfth day of the first lunar month, the Reform Department.

Level of excitement.

It is comparable to the corridors on both sides of the current Imperial Street.

"I believe that overseas trade should be expanded. There is no way to accumulate wealth in the Song Dynasty. Only overseas trade can make money!"

"No, no! Now is not the time to expand overseas trade. The investment is huge and the profits are slow. Let alone the cost of casting a sea-going ship. The imperial court cannot sustain the business cycle alone and cannot expand any further!"

"I suggest that we continue to expand the market trade."

"The market trade has reached its extreme. Xixia is very poor, Liao is self-sufficient, Korea and Japan are just small businesses, and they still want to make money from us!"

"I suggest that redundant officials be abolished and salaries reduced!" The speaker was Wang Anshi.

Fan Zhongyan shook his head and said: "This is not the best time. The officials want to conduct another 100-day official examination after the Chinese New Year. If we go with the abolition of officials, I fear that the various prefectures and counties will be unstable!"

“Either increase business tax or increase two taxes, otherwise how to increase the revenue of the state treasury?”

Wang Yaochen shook his head.

Officials have made it clear that there are two things that cannot be done in the Song Dynasty's reform: first, officials cannot reduce their salaries; second, they cannot increase taxes on the people.

These two items will shake the foundation of the country and must not be done.

……

Officials from the Reform Department were discussing intensely.

The discussion lasted from dawn to dusk, but no one came up with a "low-cost, quick way to make money" method.

Su Liang also thought about many ways, but he denied them all.

Throughout the dynasties, there was no court that was not trapped by money.

No matter how much money the national treasury has, it will be stretched thin when it comes to spending.

……

On the thirteenth day of the first lunar month.

The discussion on ways to save money continues.

Wang Yaochen ordered people to move twelve bamboo baskets of documents and books from the Third Division, which contained the expenses and income of the Third Division on various projects last year.

He hoped that everyone could find a way inside.

As a result, everyone continued to discuss and debate while looking through the documents and thinking about possible strategies.

……

The fourteenth day of the first lunar month.

The discussion was still heated, but until late at night, there was still no result.

Finally, Fan Zhongyan said: Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival, so everyone can rest for a day and discuss it the next day.

Su Liang took a long breath and thought to himself: I can finally take a breather!

This group of people is really trying too hard. The Song Dynasty is not strong, and it is unforgivable.

……

It’s nearly dusk during the Lantern Festival.

The sound of firecrackers is endless.

The two corridors of Imperial Street were full of tourists, rubbing shoulders one after another, making it very lively. On the streets.

Those who tell stories, those who play bugs and ants, those who play drums and flutes, those who write riddles on the ground, those who climb ropes...

One by one, there were bursts of cheers from time to time.

Just when Su Liang and his family were preparing to go out.

A small official from the Reform Department came to report.

Wang Anshi and Sima Guang fought in the Reform Department.

Their noses and mouths were bleeding from the beating, but they still refused to seek medical treatment. Wang Yaochen, the Third Chief of Staff, could not persuade him at all, so he had no choice but to ask him to call Su Liang.

Su Liang was not surprised that Wang Anshi and Sima Guang were fighting.

These two people are both stubborn and full of temper.

There were many battles in Qizhou, and after the battle, they were still as close as brothers.

It’s just that it didn’t reach everyone’s ears.

Su Liang guessed that the fight between the two must be about reform.

Immediately.

Su Liang explained the situation to Tang Ze and Tang Wanmei, and asked them to go shopping first. After giving instructions to the guards, he hurried to the Reform Department.

……

Nearly half an hour later.

Su Liang rushed to the Reform Department.

As soon as he entered the hospital, Su Liang heard Wang Yaochen's helpless voice.

"Jiefu, Junshi, we are just discussing official matters, how can we still be on the same page! Let...what do I say to you? Are you going to the medical clinic? If you don't go, I will go ask the officials!"

this moment.

Wang Anshi's mouth was bleeding and he smiled and said: "Prime Minister, if we don't understand what we're talking about today, none of us can leave, even if the officials come!"

"Yes, we can't leave! In Qizhou, when we can't convince each other, we also like to fight. After a fight, our minds will be clearer! Prime Minister Ji, you're here at the right time. Come and hear which of us has the best plan!" Qing Sima Guang, whose nose was swollen and stained with blood, also said with a smile.

Wang Yaochen couldn't help but take two steps back.

These two people were too popular, and he was afraid that he would be beaten if he spoke too hastily.

At this moment, Su Liang strode in.

Wang Yaochen couldn't help but take a long breath.

"Jing Ming, you're finally here! These two stubborn men came to the Reform Department early in the morning. They didn't eat or drink. After discussing for a day, they started fighting!"

"I've seen scholar-bureaucrats fight out of hatred, but I've never seen them start fighting while chatting, and they all feel quite comfortable!"

Su Liang looked around.

It was found that the tables, chairs, benches and books around them were not damaged, and only the two people had minor injuries on their faces.

He couldn't help but smile and said: "You must have an idea!"

Wang Anshi and Sima Guang nodded at the same time.

Now is the time when they most want to find someone to talk to, and it is impossible to go to a medical clinic.

Wang Anshi smoothed his sleeves and opened his mouth to speak.

Su Liang interrupted him directly and said, "We'll talk about it later."

Su Liang turned back and said to the official on the side: "Go, get a basin of hot water and a towel, and then go outside the door to buy them two bowls of wontons and bring them over."

"Yes, Su Yushi." The official walked quickly outside.

At this time, Sima Guang also opened his mouth to speak.

Su Liang stretched out his hand to stop him and said, "Don't say a word until you've washed your face and eaten, or I'll turn away and leave."

Immediately, Wang Anshi and Sima Guang did not dare to speak.

Wang Yaochen couldn't help but smile.

This is really one thing that reduces one thing.

Fan Gong and Fu Gong sometimes couldn't suppress these two people, but in front of Su Liang, they were submissive.

After a while.

Hot water, towels, and wontons came one after another.

The two of them felt the pain when they wiped their faces with a towel, and then drank a large bowl of Chaos with a snort.

Leaning slightly, the four of them sat at the table.

Wang Anshi took the lead and said: "This time, we are going to use the imperial court's prohibition system."

The so-called banquet refers to the imperial court's monopoly.

Generally include salt, wine, tea, spices, alum, iron products, etc.

Su Liang couldn't help but smile, and finally wanted to move this most difficult bone.

(End of this chapter)