I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 95: Tough and decisive, what the people want

afternoon.

Xu Duanshan's house, front yard.

Xu Duanshan, Bai Guang, and Cui You each lay on a bench.

The three of them were all obese, and they squirmed from time to time, like three big caterpillars hanging on small branches.

And around them, there were many officials and subordinates whom they regarded as their confidants.

After the three people learned about the three major notices from the state government, they were very panicked and immediately summoned all their cronies.

"Brothers, don't fall for the tricks of those three outsiders. They want to treat us like cattle and horses for their personal career!" Xu Duanshan raised his head and said.

"If you think about it carefully, Qizhou is the place where we will live for the rest of our lives, and Wang Anshi and Sima Guang will stay here for at most three years. They use the reform as an excuse, but they are actually doing it for personal advancement!"

"If we all listen to them, in three years' time, Qizhou will be in a mess by them. They will just slap their butts and leave. It will be us who have to clean up the mess!"

"As for the supervisory censor Su Liang, he cannot represent the imperial court. He is here to investigate the actual situation in Qizhou. He should have reported the oppression we have received to the imperial court, but he, Wang Anshi and Sima Guang are just like a snake and a rat. Will solve any problem for us.”

"Only if we continue to strike out, will the court understand our difficulties, and we will be able to live a good life!"

"As for the five times the monthly salary they promised, even if they give it, they will squeeze it out of business taxes and land taxes. This is still our money, and we are still the ones who suffer!"

Immediately afterwards, Baiguang, the Prime Minister of Licheng County, said: "My cousin is a member of the Privy Council. I found out through him that the imperial court did not support Qizhou's reform at all. The reforms of Fan Zhongyan and Fu Bi the year before last were a bloody lesson. In the end, he was It’s us who are tormenting and persecuting them, so why should we risk our lives to help them get promoted!”

Licheng County Lieutenant Cui You said in a rough voice: "Everyone, I, Cui You, have to say something harsh. Anyone who becomes Wang Anshi and Sima Guang's lackey will be my enemy. Even if they are of the same clan, I will kill them." He won’t be able to stay in Qizhou any longer!”

Cui You's words already had a threatening tone.

……

The less confident you are, the more you need to explain.

Xu Duanshan, Bai Guang, and Cui You endured the pain in their buttocks, lying on the bench, and spoke ill of Qizhou's reform for a full hour.

Some people are still hesitant, and some people are really brainwashed by these three people.

……

Near dusk.

State Yamen, in the meeting hall.

Wang Anshi scratched his throat and said: "This time, I am going to fight these lazy officials to the end. Since the imperial court allows Qizhou to be autonomous, those who can't do things should resign. Qizhou City lacks everything except nothing. people!"

"Yes, we will not be able to secure our official position after three years of hard work, and we must expel these black sheep. With so many people in Qizhou, there must be someone willing to work in the state government. If five times the monthly salary is not enough, we will give six times. Eight times, or even ten times!" Sima Guang also shouted at the top of his lungs.

……

The reason why the two of them raised their voices was naturally to let some subordinate officials outside hear.

They heard it.

Most of the officials and subordinate staff in Qizhou City also heard about it.

The two people's actions are completely different from Zhang Yaozuo's malicious attempt to create public opinion.

Zhang Yaozuo wanted to benefit himself for personal gain, while the two of them wanted to benefit Qizhou for the public good. Moreover, Wang Anshi and Sima Guang did not make up lies.

That's their plan.

The next situation, at worst, is that nearly [-]% of the officials and subordinates in Qizhou City will resign.

Wang Anshi and Sima Guang can completely accept it.

The affairs of lower-level officials are highly repetitive and highly replaceable. As long as you have money, you can find a replacement.

There is really no shortage of people in Qizhou City.

Soon, the news that Wang Anshi and Sima Guang announced in the state government office that they would fight to the end against dismissed officials and that they would recruit people with high monthly salary reached the ears of many officials and subordinates.

……

At night, the heat has not subsided.

In the south of Qizhou City, in a courtyard.

Lao Huang, who had worked as a civil servant in the government office for 23 years, was lying in the courtyard, shaking his cattail leaf fan.

He was confused.

Should he report to the state government office at noon tomorrow, or should he follow Xu Duanshan's wishes and continue to fight?

He doesn't understand what reform is.

He stopped working because Xu Duanshan told him that if he stopped working, his monthly salary would increase, and he would not be as tired as before.

He is not afraid of being tired, but he is afraid of not making money.

At present, his mother is 88 years old, his son is not doing his job properly, and his wife is often sick. He doesn't want to lose this job, but he doesn't know whether he should listen to Zhizhou Tongfen or Xu Duanshan and the others.

At this time, his nearly 60-year-old wife came over and said to him: "You should listen to whoever does good for the people. That's right. Everything has its consequences."

Lao Huang thought for a while and murmured: "Maybe, let's take a gamble tomorrow!"

……

In the west of the city, in a very dilapidated house.

Five children were running around and playing in the yard, and now a fat woman was chasing a strong man with a kitchen knife.

"Ushisaburo, my father hired this policeman for you. If you dare to lose it, I will castrate you tonight!"

This Niu Sanlang is the county government's catcher, and he is also on strike.

"You...you stupid bitch, I was just following the orders of Officer Xu. Do you think I want to stay at home like this?"

"Xu Tuiguan? Is Xu Tuiguan your biological father or your biological mother? If you listen to him like this, what benefits has he given you? He has been dismissed from office now. If you listen to him, you are seeking death!"

"Xu Tuiguan said that as long as we squeeze out Zhizhou and Tongpan, the future will be bright and prosperous!"

"You fart! Have you seen the magistrate who went to the fields to help the people harvest wheat? Have you seen the tongpan who spent the whole day helping the children learn to read? They are good officials. When the officials are busy, the people will relax. I ...How could I marry such a brainless thing like you!"

After saying that, the fat woman raised her knife again and started running after the cow catcher.

...In the north of the city, in the alley in front of Xu Laotou's house.

"Xu Damao, get out of here. From today on, you live your life, and my son and I live ours. We no longer have anything to do with each other!" A young woman held the child in one hand and carried the baggage in the other.

In front of him, blocking a tall and thin man, it was Xu Laotou.

Xu Laotou said: "You stinky bitch, what do you know? Xu Tuiguan is thinking about my future career. If I compromise now, I won't be able to hold my head high in front of my brothers!"

"For your official career? Do you have an official career? After five years of being a prison chief, what have you gained except an extra set of lice? Your family doesn't have a penny, so the official Xu is not a good thing at all. Can't you see it? ?”

……

Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night for those dismissed officials. Different choices will lead them to two completely different paths.

……

The next day, the sky was slightly brighter.

The vermilion door of the state government office slowly opened.

Immediately afterwards, a desk was brought out with pen, ink, paper and inkstone on it.

Before noon, if those officials and subordinates who have gone on strike sign their names, they can continue to do their errands, and their monthly money will increase significantly.

If he doesn't sign, what awaits him will be twenty sticks and a letter of dismissal.

Su Liang, Wang Anshi and Sima Guang never showed up.

They regarded this move as the last chance given to these low-level officials.

If these people don't cherish them, they will naturally be replaced by others.

As soon as the desk was moved out, two subordinates signed their names.

After learning that they would gather at the gate of the state government office in the afternoon, they left quickly.

Half an hour later, a large group of people gathered in front of the state government office, most of them were subordinate officials who were on strike.

They are very torn.

In front of the desk, people signed their names one after another.

An hour later.

There are more and more people watching, and these people are just here to watch the fun.

At this time, Xu Laotou strode to the desk.

"Xu Laotou, you...you and County Lieutenant Cui are brothers-in-law. Aren't you afraid that he will stab you with a knife?"

Xu Laotou turned his head and said, "I will choose whoever is good for Qizhou. If I continue to strike, I'm afraid that in three years' time, I won't be able to raise my head in front of the graves of my ancestors!"

After that, Xu Laotou signed his name in front of the desk.

Immediately afterwards, some hesitant officials seemed to be influenced by Xu Laotou and signed their names one after another.

……

Near noon.

More than [-]% of the officials who went on strike have signed the petition.

Xu Duanshan, Bai Guang, and Cui You were always paying attention to the news in the state government. When they learned that the number of people who had registered had exceeded [-]% of those who had stopped, they knew that there was nothing they could do to save the day.

The more people sign, the more people follow the crowd.

On the side, a government official looked at the sun in the sky and suddenly said loudly: "It's noon, go back home!"

Suddenly, the signed paper was rolled up.

At this moment, a panting middle-aged man ran over.

"Wait a minute, I...I want to report in!" the middle-aged man said, breathing heavily.

"Sorry, you are late and have been dismissed. If you want to find a new position in the yamen, please accept the penalty of twenty rods for dereliction of duty first, and then come to the yamen to apply again. You and other applicants will have the same Chance!"

After hearing this, the middle-aged man slumped on the ground with a depressed look on his face.

This is the rule set by Wang Anshi. It ends at noon, and no more breaths will be taken.

……

afternoon.

All the available officials and subordinates in Qizhou came to the state government compound.

There were more than [-] people in total.

Su Liang, Wang Anshi and Sima Guang couldn't help but feel happy after reading the list of official vacancies.

The vacancy is only about 70 people.

Next, just find some hard-working people to fill in, it's no trouble at all.

Immediately afterwards, it was Sima Guang’s chicken soup time for the soul.

Sima Guang announced the performance appraisal rules of "more work, more reward".

He also informed everyone that no matter what problems arise in their lives in the future, they can come to the state government for help, and the state government will do its best to solve any problems.

This move is naturally aimed at the forces of Xu Duanshan, Bai Guang, and Cui You. If they dare to cause trouble, they will be imprisoned.

Sima Guang was very good at painting cakes. He described to the people a Qizhou that the whole world would yearn for in the future, which aroused the excitement of the officials and subordinates.

The next day, the state government officials held the dismissal order and carried sticks, and began to carry out the punishment.

Those who are stubborn and unyielding will not only receive twenty canes, but also lose their jobs completely.

Next, the operations of officials and subordinates in Qizhou will soon return to normal.

At this moment, Su Liang felt that he should have a good chat with the two of them. He felt that they still didn't understand the purpose of the reform.

(End of this chapter)