I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 349: The memorial is as sparse as snowflakes, the decision to dismiss officials must not be delayed!

afternoon.

On the banks of the Bianhe River, the sunshine is golden, and the ground is covered with fallen leaves of elm and willow trees.

The clear river water in the distance.

There were passenger ships and cargo ships moving forward slowly, and from time to time the sound of boatmen shouting could be heard.

And this moment.

On a river bank, many people gathered around, and more and more people gathered.

soon.

The Yamen of Kaifeng Prefecture arrived, and the soldiers of the Imperial City Division arrived and quickly sealed off the riverside.

More than a dozen fishing boats with poles held by soldiers appeared on the water.

And this moment.

"It makes sense!"

Cui Hong, the judge of the Ministry of Revenue, and Qiu Yu, the prime minister in the palace, sat opposite each other.

What he saw were four corpses wearing blue official uniforms.

Those who do not cherish their own lives will not cherish the lives of others, let alone the lives of common people.

Strategies for official recruitment reduction and door-to-door reform will also be seriously affected.

Wen Yanbo, Fu Bi, Fan Zhongyan, Bao Zheng, Su Liang and others came to the river one after another in carriages.

"If Prime Minister Zhou You had not died, we would have treated him alive. He would not have told the truth unless absolutely necessary. Otherwise, he, a loyal and good official who 'died to make his ambition clear', would have become a villain, and he would have been punished by the court." Punish him severely, he shouldn’t be that stupid!”

Except for Dr. Zhou Youxiang from the Imperial College, his whereabouts are unknown.

Zhao Zhen had already had enough of this rogue threat.

"Of the official family, four people who jumped into the Bian River drowned and one is missing. These five people also left death letters at home. At this time, the content of the death letters has been spread in Bianjing City."

Not to mention the Song Dynasty, this was the first time in thousands of years.

Qian Fu, the superintendent of the department who was in charge of reviewing the text, Liu Dalin, the provincial administrator of the palace, Chu Yan, the editor of the editorial office, and Bai Yishi, the administrator of Taifu Temple, all drowned.

He showed no mercy for the deaths of the four men.

"Brother Cui, I... I didn't expect this guy to know how to swim. He clearly said that he was a landlubber, but I didn't expect that I couldn't push him to the bottom of the water even if I poked him with a stick. I... I was already on both sides of the Bianhe River, and he was there We have already arranged for someone to kill him as soon as he appears!"

……

A chamberlain walked over quickly.

What Zhao Zhen hates the most.

even.

"Yeah, I understand." Qiu Yu nodded.

Cui Hong thought for a while and then said: "You continue to send people to find him, and I will take advantage of this opportunity to publicize their suicide note in the streets and alleys, and try to get it to be banned. Tomorrow's desk will be a memorial against the dismissal of officials."

Forbidden, hang down the hall.

"The ministers are incompetent. Although they have no talents, they still have a patriotic heart. They will die to express their ambitions and persuade officials to think twice."

Followed by.

"Cutting officials will ruin the fate of our country in the Song Dynasty. All officials will be frightened and disheartened. If the scholar-bureaucrats and officials are not stable, the world will be unstable; if the scholar-bureaucrats and officials are in chaos, the world will be in chaos."

"No, no, no, you can't kill him!" Cui Hong shook his head.

"Scholar-bureaucrats and officials shoulder the responsibilities of the emperor and herdsmen, and they are the foundation for the stability of the country and the country."

In a carriage in a remote alley.

……

"Hmph, who doesn't know how to speak the truth! I am abolishing redundant officials to eliminate diseases in the country and the country, and to benefit the people of the world..."

When Su Liang arrived.

That is, some officials used their lives to remonstrate with the emperor without any reason, forcing him to change his holy will.

Five officials jumped into the river at the same time.

Zhao Zhen threw the joint suicide note on the ground with a gloomy expression.

Cui Hong glared and said: "Qiu Yu, what did you do? How could you let Zhou You escape? If he is still alive and reveals that this is our plan, both of us will lose our heads!"

"The Reform Department's policy of dismissal of officials is an act of disobedience to the laws of our ancestors and betrayal of the great kindness of Taizu, Taizong and the late emperor. It is indeed an unkind act."

"I understand." Zhao Zhen nodded.

……

Zhao Zhen is reading a suicide note signed by five officials.

He had already expected that many officials would definitely come forward to oppose the imperial court's policy of cutting officials.

at this time.

……

Near dusk.

The government officials of Kaifeng Mansion and the soldiers of the Imperial City Department still did not find Dr. Zhou Youxiang of the Imperial College.

The latter were either swept away by the current, or spontaneously came ashore somewhere or were rescued ashore.

……

At this moment, inside the Reform Department.

All members of the Reform Department gathered together.

Four days ago.

Tai Jian handed over the draft list of official reductions, namely the "Provincial Officials Directory Bianjing Chapter" to the Reform Department.

Zeng Gongliang, Wang Yaochen, Wang Anshi and Sima Guang served as the main reviewers. After four days and nights of busy work, the review was completed.

This "Directory of Provincial Officials·Bianjing Chapter".

A total of seven yamen were merged, 34 official positions were abolished, 128 officials were promoted to official positions in advance, and 32 officials were dismissed.

in the directory.

It clearly lists the reasons for the merger of yamen, the reasons for the abolition of official positions, as well as the reasons for premature resignation and dismissal of officials.

There is a big difference between resigning early and being dismissed.

Early entry into office means early retirement. The court will give those who enter office early a pension of between 20% and half of their salary based on their political performance.

To be deposed means to dismiss from office, to remove one's official body.

Most of the time an official will be deprived of his official qualifications because he has made a mistake that has hindered the government's political affairs or his performance has been too poor to attract public resentment.

Those who were deposed were not given a penny as compensation.

Su Liang opened the directory.

Soon the names of the four people who drowned today were found. Three were dismissed from office in advance and one was dismissed.

But Dr. Zhou Youxiang of the Imperial College was not found.

He looked at Zeng Gongliang doubtfully.

"Prime Minister Zeng, I remember that when Tai Jian sent this list, the number of officials to be dismissed was Dr. Zhou Youxiang of the Imperial College. Why was it crossed out again?"

Zeng Gongliang replied seriously: "Xiang Zhou You's teaching performance in the Imperial College is indeed at the bottom, but as far as we know, this person has a good character and has sponsored several children from poor families to study. His reputation as a diligent teacher in the Imperial College is acceptable. And Hao Jin. Yesterday I went to find Tang Zhongcheng and Bachelor Ouyang, and after discussing it, I decided to give him another chance."

Dismissal.

Every layoff has a huge impact, so everyone is very cautious.

As long as this person has the merits of being an official, has good qualities and has good character, there is a high probability that he will be retained and checked again.

Those who retired from office prematurely and were dismissed did so for bad reasons.

There is no political performance, no moral character, and some even engage in corruption and bribery.

Zeng Gongliang also removed his name without knowing that he was jumping into the Bianhe River.

Also.

If all those who retire early and those who are deposed have any objections, they can appeal to the Reform Department. If there are sufficient reasons, they will be re-examined by the two governments.

……

After a while.

Everyone in the Reform Department read this list and no one had any objections. At this time.

Fan Zhongyan said: "According to the rules, we should hand over this "Provincial Official Directory Bianjing Chapter" to Zhongshu and the official family tomorrow morning. But today four officials drowned themselves due to the policy of cutting off officials, and one is missing. Should we wait two days before submitting this list?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone thought deeply.

This list is not a policy to lay off officials, but a real list of officials to be laid off.

Originally, once it was announced, it would cause an uproar.

Now, five more officials have drowned themselves because they opposed the layoffs, which will surely trigger more opposition.

If this matter spreads to the local area, it may even trigger an official coup.

Just when everyone was hesitating, Wang Anshi stood up.

"We must not delay submission. Delay means showing weakness. Once we show weakness to those officials who oppose the reduction of officials, they will definitely intensify their efforts. How will they reduce officials in the future?"

Sima Guang on the side shook his head.

"I suggest that the submission be delayed. The self-indulgence of scholar-bureaucrats and this list will not only give the officials an 'unkind' reputation, but will also cause many officials to 'complain'. If the complaints are too loud, the court will If there is chaos, someone will definitely take advantage of the chaos to rebel, and once the situation becomes large, it will be terrible!"

Wang Anshi looked at Sima Guang.

"If you are afraid of wolves in the front and tigers in the back, when will you achieve great things? In the past few years, there have been few people in the Song Dynasty who have rebelled. If an official rebels, this official is definitely not a good official. We can just wipe him out. Get rid of redundant officials and the whole country will be restored." If the top priority of the Song Dynasty's reform is like a dragonfly again, the achievements of the entire Song Dynasty's reform will sooner or later be destroyed by this group of people!"

"Jiefu, it's not that we won't submit it, it's just that we'll postpone it until we see the officials' attitude tomorrow!" Liang Shi added.

Wang Anshi curled his lips.

"When does the policy of reform depend on the attitude of others? Should we stop when others oppose it? Don't say that there are only five people who jumped into the river. Even if there are ten or a hundred people, the dismissal of officials cannot be delayed!" Wang Anshi asked Throat said.

Fu Bi shook his head and said: "Jiefu, wait a little longer, it's too risky. Under such circumstances, we must take care of the emotions of the lower-level officials. Once they feel that the court is unkind and unjust, something big will happen!" "

"Yes, we must take it slow." Zeng Gongliang also said.

Wang Anshi glared and said: "Prime Minister Fu, Prime Minister Zeng, how can this be related to the lack of kindness and righteousness of the imperial court? We are cutting off the people who should be cut off, and we are removing the moths in the court. There can be no compromise, absolutely no compromise. Otherwise, the result may be exactly the same as the Qingli New Deal back then!”

Hearing this, Fu Bi and Fan Zhongyan frowned, and then continued to persuade Wang Anshi.

This Wang Anshi was able to defeat many enemies with one force, and he did not fall behind in the slightest.

After a while.

Fu Bi, Fan Zhongyan, Zeng Gongliang and others all looked at Su Liang, who had never spoken.

Now in court.

The only one who could suppress Wang Anshi's stubbornness was Su Liang.

Su Liang thought for a while and said: "I support Jie Fu. The officials we are cutting are all those who should be cut. They should not be postponed for other matters."

Dismissal of officials is all about a sharp momentum.

Only if the court is tough enough can we reduce a lot of trouble in the future. Otherwise, we will encounter setbacks along the way.

After Su Liang expressed his attitude.

Wang Anshi suddenly gained confidence and spoke loudly about his views again.

……

At this moment, the meeting hall of the Reform Department was like a vegetable market, and the noise was extremely intense.

No one can convince anyone.

Especially Wang Anshi and Sima Guang, they seemed to have eaten gunpowder, their voices were like bells, and they kept talking.

"That's enough! That's enough!"

Fan Zhongyan, the most senior person, patted the table and everyone stopped.

Fan Zhongyan said: "Slow down a little. Tomorrow at around noon, when the officials have read the memorials of the ministers, we will go together to send the "Provincial Officials Directory Bianjing Chapter" to the officials, and then explain our respective positions, and wait for the officials Decision, how about it?”

Others nodded, and that was all they could do at the moment.

……

As night falls, the lights in Bianjing City are as bright as day.

Today's incident of officials jumping into the river has become a hot topic of discussion among countless people.

A scholar tore a copied version of the Jue Ming Book into two halves, and then said angrily: "Jiaohe Mingzhi, do they think they are the master Qu Fuzi of Sanlu? They are just sensationalizing. I don't believe these five people can stop the imperial court." official!"

"Brother Liu, I'm afraid these five people are just appetizers. Tomorrow there will definitely be many officials taking advantage of this opportunity to oppose the large-scale layoffs of the imperial court!"

"Alas! I feel that the government may delay the policy of laying off officials again. Maybe this time it will be like the Qingli New Deal, with loud thunder and light rain, and nothing will happen in the end." Another scholar said.

"If this can force the court to change its policy, then...then I will jump into the river tomorrow and let the court resume its original method of selecting scholars through the imperial examination!"

……

late at night.

In the south of Bianjing City, in an alley south of Wazi, Baokangmen.

A faint candlelight flickered inside a house as soon as one entered.

this moment.

Dr. Zhou Youxiang of the Imperial Academy was sitting at the table, drinking and looking at the starry night sky.

This is one of his private residences.

Purchased in the name of a distant cousin, not even his family knew about it.

Nearly half a month's worth of food was stored inside.

As long as the imperial court did not conduct a large-scale search of Bianjing City, he would not be discovered hiding here for ten days and a half.

Although Prime Minister Zhou You was an edict, he was familiar with Sun Tzu's Art of War.

When Qiu Yu asked him if he knew water, he suspected that the former might want to kill him, so he planned his escape route in advance and returned to the house.

At this moment, he still had lingering fears.

Because he saw with his own eyes that when the four people who jumped into the river with him were struggling in the water, they did not receive help, but someone stabbed them toward the bottom with a stick.

After he figured out the whole story, he decided to stay in the house for a few more days.

If the officials still want to lay off officials on a large scale and are extremely angry about the five people jumping into the river, he will run away.

If the officials put off the reduction of troops, he would show up quickly. By then, many officials would owe him a favor.

……

The next day, early in the morning.

The officials of the Yintai Department sent stacks of memorials to Chui Gong Hall.

There were more than ten officials carrying it.

The four tables on both sides of the imperial desk in Chui Gong Hall were all piled as high as one person.

After Zhao Zhen came to the palace, he read the memorial.

Although he expected it.

But the words of some officials still made him very angry.

Some officials said that large-scale layoffs were an act of "catching up all the birds and hiding the bow", and that it was unbenevolent and unjust for the court to do so.

Some officials said that the officials were actually beguiled by officials from the Reform Department, and these officials intended to make the officials bear the reputation of being "ungrateful and unjust."

Some officials said that large-scale layoffs were against the ancestral system and would actually bring disaster to the country and the country. They suggested that it be abandoned immediately.

……

Zhao Zhen was very angry and wrote down the names of all the opponents.

……

At the same time, Su Liang was on his way to the Yamen.

He was sitting in the carriage and was dozing off when the carriage suddenly stopped.

Then, Su Liang saw Bao Zheng getting into the carriage with two dark circles under his eyes.

Before Su Liang could speak, Bao Zheng said: "Jingming, I didn't sleep last night. I studied the family, personality, and political abilities of these five officials who jumped into the river in detail. I found that they may not have actively sought death, but were poisoned. Some people’s trap!”

Su Liang opened his mouth to speak.

Bao Zheng added: "Don't let the conflicts between the officials and the Reform Department intensify. I will go back to investigate right away. The case can be solved in three days at most!"

After that, Bao Zheng quickly got out of the carriage, but Su Liang didn't say a word.

(End of this chapter)