Chapter 256: Reform

Zhao Yu thought about it and asked, "It means that there is no end in sight?" ”

Shopkeeper Hu shook his head, pondered for a while, and said: "After Yue Fei became the chief general of the Hangzhou fleet, he did not slack off in training because he had no battle. If the ministers of the court can be prepared for danger in times of peace, it is okay. ”

Zhao Yu nodded: "What Shopkeeper Hu said makes sense. Ouyang, what do you think? ”

Ouyang didn't know how to say it, war was originally a two-sided blade. I had to say helplessly: "What Yu Niang said, it is naturally what it is." ”

Zhao Yu nodded with satisfaction. Myolie Wu asked, "Ouyang, what is the relationship between you and Yu Niang." ”

"Friend!" Ouyang replied.

"Then I'll say a few words, if you don't fight, Ouyang, your gunpowder will not be easy to sell, the price of military horses in the Hexi Corridor will fall, the price of grain will fall, and the price of cotton clothes and linen will fall. As soon as these things fall and they cannot be sold or they are sold less, the workers will be dismissed, and the workers will naturally have their opinions, and some of them will be transferred back to become peasants, not to mention the lack of income, and the land will be thinned again. Myolie Wu said: "Yangping collects less taxes, Ouyang you will also take less money to repair bridges and pave roads, the roads and bridges are not good, making the takeaway market even more difficult, and firing people......"

Ouyang shook his head: "This is a social problem, and the argument is fruitless." ”

"Forget it, don't talk about it." Zhao Yu smiled: "I'll have dinner here tonight, I'll do the east." ”

"Then we're welcome." Hu Wansan agreed.

……

Ouyang didn't understand why Zhao Yu was in a hurry to end the war. He understood Zhao Yu's ambition to become strong and sweep the four seas. Because not only Zhao Yu, but also many emperors have such dreams. But not many people can do it. Emperor Wen of Sui did it, and Taizong of Tang did half of it. But unfortunately, none of them completely destroyed their opponents. According to Ouyang's thoughts, it is completely possible to take it slowly, and according to the current national strength of the Great Song Dynasty, no one can resist the pace of progress, because the Great Song Dynasty has linked the productive forces with the war ability.

Dinner was very harmonious, Myolie Wu was not afraid of death and Zhao Yu were, and it could be seen that she had a good impression of Zhao Yu, at least more than Ouyang. Zhao Yu was very interested in the inner workings of the Chamber of Commerce, and by the way, he helped everyone present ask them the doubts in their hearts: "Ouyang, why aren't you the chairman?" ”

"Let's be honest." Ouyang stopped his chopsticks and said, "I feel that I won't be able to do it one day." Even if I had the means to die, what about after death? For example, let Su Qian take over, Su Qian may be able to do it for ten or twenty years, but as long as he is confused for a year, he can ruin the future of the Chamber of Commerce. Instead of this, let's change the election. At least there is an upside to it. For example, the shopkeeper of the king represents the moderation and moderation, and when everyone feels that the current business needs to be moderate and conservative, they can elect the shopkeeper of the king as the chairman. That is to say, in the future, it will no longer be the chairman who influences others, but the chairman whose needs produce the needs of others. ”

"Like Tang Xuanzong?" Zhao Yu asked and said: "In the first half of his life, he opened the prosperous era of the Yuan Dynasty, and in the second half of his life, he appointed villains, and the soldiers were in chaos. Not only did his national strength suffer a great loss, but the national strength of the Tang Dynasty was greatly damaged and could not be recovered. ”

"......" Ouyang and Shopkeeper Wang glanced at each other.

"It's the same with Emperor Wu of Han." Zhao Yu said: "In the later period, the villain was surrounded by people, his personality was arbitrary and violent, killing the prince, killing loyal ministers, indulging in beauty, and worrying about women's disorderly government, and killing the mother of the new prince. Emperor Yang of Sui also had feats...... "Zhao Yu counted more than a dozen famous emperors, except for Emperor Wen of Sui, who were either inactive or sage and then mediocre. Even Li Shimin, Zhao Yu believed that he also had a certain responsibility for Li Wu's dispute and the weakening of Tang.

Seeing that what Zhao Yu said was over, Shopkeeper Wang hurriedly stood up and said, "I drank two more glasses, I'm tired." "Mother, what are you listening to today.

Ouyang cooperated and stood up: "I'll send you." ”

……

Ouyang came back and sat down in front of Zhao Yu and asked, 'Your Majesty, what's wrong?' “

After Zhao Yu let the others leave, he took a wine glass and walked to the pond and said, "I am alone in the deep palace, and I have a lot of time to think nonsense. I'm worried that I'll have to become a faint lord sooner or later. Being in the palace, it's hard to know what's right and what's wrong. That's why I often let you go to Beijing. For example, in the case of Cai Jing, I am extremely mediocre. Originally, I thought that there were courtiers like Wei Zheng to blame me, but they didn't dare, who dared to blame me? They just snicker behind their backs. I can afford to lose face, but in the future, someone will not only be greedy for ink, but will rebel? You are the only one who can send Wang Hao to open the knife for me, so that I can get back face. ”

Ouyang comforted: "If a person is not a sage, who can do no wrong." ”

"That's not what you say, you should be the magistrate of the county, and if you are wrong, you will be dismissed. But if I am wrong, I may ruin the Zhao family and harm the people. Zhao Yu said: "I have an undecided matter now. In the family banquet, the princes asked me to establish a prince as soon as possible. Say what you say in a righteous and righteous way, let the prince do things with me, be close to the people and government, and learn more. But in private, he talked to me about the ugly things of the princes and the quasi-princes, and praised his children. ”

"Oh, Your Majesty is bothered by this." Ouyang nodded and understood, Zhao Yu had seen all the candidates for the prince, and she was not satisfied, and if she was forced to choose one from among them, a person with a good face like her would naturally have to think, what should she do if the great foundation is defeated by these fools in the future? It's not that your child doesn't hurt, it's normal for people who can't do it. No matter how your child looks at it, it is pleasing to the eye.

"What, you, a foreign official, want to discuss my family affairs?" Zhao Yu looked at Ouyang with a smile and said, "Even Li Gang let me make my own decision, and I don't dare to say a word." ”

"Whatever you want, there's no one left or right anyway."

"Well, then let's talk about it casually." Zhao Yu said: "You dare to say it." ”

"In fact, Your Majesty is in good health, and there may not be a prince who can live past Your Majesty. But the prince must learn to govern the country, and he must go to the frontier to supervise the army, and he will ...... In short, the prince is a very big official. And in case His Majesty is unwell, or for example, if he comes to Yangping now, then the prince will have to supervise the country, and he will have to work hard and do state affairs. Even if His Majesty discovers the Prince's mistake in the future, it cannot be corrected, because if His Majesty corrects it, it will be equivalent to abolishing the Prince. If there is the position of the prince, there will be internal strife, and the minister will establish a faction, so Weichen thinks that it is not possible to establish a prince for the time being. ”

"But the princes are pressing, and there are my elders on the left and right, so there must be a reason to say the past."

Ouyang smiled: "Let the courtiers ***." Which prince to appoint is a matter for His Majesty's family. But whether to establish a prince or not is a state matter. ”

"Makes sense!" Zhao Yu's eyes lit up and he nodded again and again.

Ouyang Dao: "Actually, Your Majesty is really afraid that he will be mediocre in the future, and it is not impossible. ”

"What's the solution?"

"Really?"

Zhao Yu sighed: "Even you are afraid of me." ”

"Say! Wechen said. Ouyang said: "Actually, Your Majesty can turn court decisions into a routine. For example, His Majesty wants to attack the Liao State, but he doesn't know whether what he did right or wrong, so he announced the opening of the court. Officials who supported the attack spoke, and officials who opposed the attack spoke, stating the pros and cons. If the public says that the public is reasonable, and the mother-in-law says that the mother-in-law is reasonable, and His Majesty can't make up his mind, it will be ***. Don't listen to Li Gang, don't listen to Ouyang, don't listen to any family. After all, they are human beings, and they can be wrong. , and they also have selfish interests. ”

Zhao Yu nodded: "For example, in the matter of establishing a prince, you can let the supporting ministers or princes talk about it first." And then those who oppose the establishment of the reserve. Final vote. I can explain, this is ***. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty, but there are some rules to be made beforehand." Ouyang said: "Not everything is adjudicated, for example, if a decision is opposed by ten ministers, then the court will hold a discussion, otherwise there is no need to open it." However, Your Majesty must also abide by the rules, and there are ten ministers who oppose it, Your Majesty cannot be arbitrary, and you must also hold a court meeting. ”

"So if I have to do something, I can't do it?" Zhao Yu shook his head: "For example, if we start a war with Jin Liao at the same time, how many people will support it?" ”

Ouyang Dao: "Your Majesty, if you ask if you can start a war at the same time, it must be that there are few supporters. But His Majesty asked if he could make enemies with them, and it must be that there are many supporters. Not to mention Liao, to Jin, the Jin conspiracy caused such a big loss to the Central Plains. Who would dare to say that he was friendly with the Jin people? ”

Zhao Yu understood a little: "You mean the general direction of the ministers, such as the relationship between Liao and Jin, as for what to do after it is settled, they can't decide, right?" ”

"yes, that's what it means." Ouyang Dao: "Your Majesty, as long as you don't make mistakes in the general direction. For example, even if you lose the battle ahead, what can you do? The courtiers don't know how to fight, so of course they can't be allowed to vote on how to fight and who will be the commander. ”

Zhao Yu asked: "Is it because you don't want to go to Beijing, so you came up with such a lazy way?" ”

"Of course not."

"In Yangping, there is wine, money, and women. You Ouyang is the king of Yangping, you can do whatever you want. Now even the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce has stepped down, and he is even more unrestrained. ”

Ouyang smiled embarrassedly: "Your Majesty is too high-spirited,." ”

"Lift what. Who doesn't want to be the queen of Li. Zhao Yu said: "But I am here, you can only not stop." In the evening, you help me make a plan for the merchant to be sent tomorrow. Including some of the benefits I promised. ”

"Yes!"

"I'm tired, I'm going to rest." Zhao Yu shouted: "Come on, help Lord Ou grind and increase the carbon fire." ”

You sleep, I work, Ouyang had no choice but to go to the side room and began to conceive a plan, the plan must estimate everyone's interests, such as the diversion of pressure, the expected damage to the economy, the solution to the possible weakness of the economy, and so on. Ouyang concluded, it's not possible not to add, after all, the emperors are here. That can only be solved, and Ouyang's plan focuses on several new industries. Then he made suggestions to Yangping and Dongnan Qianzhuang, and there was a way to release as much pressure as possible in the occupied areas of Liao. Minimize local pressure. This also included the creation of maritime merchant armies, the plundering of the population to use as labor, and the reduction of production costs. At the time of capital-intensive embryonic formation, labor was a fairly high cost.

It wasn't until dawn that Ouyang finished the plan and walked out of the door to the courtyard, where the cold wind blew his skin with tearing pain. Look at the two internal guards in the courtyard, standing upright, their eyes motionless. Ouyang admired, this is called dedication. Ouyang took out two braziers from the room and placed them beside them, adding some charcoal. Then take a cup of wine and watch the dawn to drink. Driving a night train Ouyang is a common thing in modern times.

In the early morning, Zhao Yu also woke up, and Ouyang had already asked people to buy breakfast, soy milk, fritters and buns. Zhao Yu asked Ouyang to go back to rest first, and she sorted out the plan by herself. Ouyang was not polite, went back to take a hot bath, changed into comfortable clothes, drank another cup of strong tea and went out.

……

All the businessmen shouted 'not good' after hearing Ouyang introduce Zhao Yu's identity, but no one would be stupid enough to propose that Zhao Yu was not qualified to sit at the table. People are emperors, and the whole world is not the emperor of the royal land. However, Zhao Yu's attitude was better than they imagined. Of course, Zhao Yu is definitely not the best attitude among the emperors of all dynasties. Emperor Wen of Sui behaved better, and when he met the old, weak, sick and disabled on the road, he took the initiative to give way, and asked the soldiers to carry goods for the people with limited mobility, and also gave his horses to the people to show them the way. Every time there was a drought or flood, he opened the treasury to reserve food, even military rations.

Zhao Yu first affirmed the contribution made by the Chamber of Commerce in the Dongting Lake Rebellion last year, and then explained the reasons for the increase in commercial tax, and then asked Ouyang to read the plan to reduce the concerns of the businessmen as much as possible. After all the words were said, everyone looked at Su Qian, because Ouyang had already made his position clear that he was performing his duties, and the attitude of the next chairman, Su Qian, became the focus of everyone's attention.

Su Qiandao: "Your Majesty, it is understandable for us businessmen to benefit from the Great Song Dynasty and contribute to the Great Song Dynasty. His Majesty personally came to Yangping to explain to us the difficulties of the imperial court and the purpose of taxation. We also arranged a lot of measures to help us, which we were very grateful for. ”

Zhao Yu said generously: "Su Da shopkeeper, if you have something to say, you have something to say." ”

"In fact, the grass people thought that there were people in the court who fought wars and those who managed the place. But it doesn't seem to care about the merchants. ”

"What do you mean?"

“…… The meaning of the grass people, the grass *** thought is ......" Su Qian looked at Ouyang.

Ouyang said: "Your Majesty, what Shopkeeper Su means." It is better for this chamber of commerce to have a place in the imperial court. For example, it is also possible to propose the government. ”

Zhao Yu asked: "Do you mean to let the Chamber of Commerce also participate in the court meeting?" ”

"Yes, that's what it means." Ouyang explained: "After all, civil and military officials are not professional businessmen. Having someone over there can also illustrate the pros and cons of the influence of the government on businessmen. Your Majesty, how many people in the imperial court will know that the increase in commercial taxes is not to make merchants pay more taxes at all, but actually to let the people pay more taxes? Few people know about it, and even fewer know about the damage it can cause. It would be a good thing if anyone could explain the implications, and judge His Majesty and the ministers. ”

Zhao Yu took a sip of water and thought about it and asked: "If the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce is changed in four years, is that person also changed?" ”

Su Qian nodded: "Of course!" ”

"From the fourth grade, consult the doctor." Zhao Yu said: "Shopkeeper Su, how is it?" ”

"Since Your Majesty has given us businessmen the opportunity to speak, it is okay to have no products." Su Qian said: "Thank you, Your Majesty." ”

"You don't have to be polite, over the years, I have seen the contributions made by the Chamber of Commerce." Zhao Yu said with a smile: "However, the court is deep, and I think that the treasurer of Su Da plays a small role in the court discussion. ”

Su Qiandao: "Your Majesty, this decision was naturally made by Your Majesty and the ministers. The grass people just say the impact on business and the pros and cons fairly. ”

"Yes! When I turn back, I will make a holy decree. Zhao Yu asked, "What else do you want?" ”

Su Qian has no opinion, and everyone naturally has no opinion. As a result, starting in March next year, the imperial court officially added 40% to the original tax on all commerce. Zhao Yu will mortgage the estimated overcharged taxes next year to Yangping Qianzhuang, which will provide Zhao Yu with a large amount of cash. Qian Zhuang makes money, and Zhao Yu also has plenty of funds to recruit troops. Everyone's happy!

……

There is a media tool called the Royal Newspaper, and the news has been spread since the beginning of the year. Zhao Yu, who is at the headquarters of the Royal Newspaper, accepted a personal interview with the Royal Newspaper. This interview caused a sensation in the Great Song Dynasty, and from the perspective of each dynasty and generation, the emperor was strengthening the centralization of power, weakening the military power, economic power, legislative power, coinage power and so on of the local officials. In fact, Zhao Yu did the same a few years ago, and the commercial law drafted by Ouyang was born to strengthen the power of the central government. And Zhao Yu went one step further, concentrating on the central power and establishing a deliberative body dominated by courtiers. The courtiers may deliberate, but they do not actually send them, and the magistrates have actual dispatches, but they do not have the right to deliberate. It was very successful in splitting the regime into two parts. This approach is not the first of its kind in Zhao Yu. The Tokyo Forbidden Army is out of privy secrets, and it is not allowed to command the people. The soldiers are subordinate to the Sanya, and they are not allowed to dictate it. The Secret Institute has the power to transfer troops, but it is not in charge of the army; Sanya is in charge of the army, but has no power to transfer troops. There are similarities between the two.

So it seems that Zhao Yu can't decide some things in the future, but in fact, Zhao Yu's hand not only eases the contradictions within the court, but also makes the generation and use of rights clear, not only curbing local private rights, but also effectively controlling the courtiers to get power. Don't be deceived by assumptions, the courtiers have the right to decide the fortunes of the country, but for example, how to manage the Huai River, this matter is the matter of the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Households, the responsible chief official, the prime minister and the emperor, and has nothing to do with others. In the event of a war, the criminal department and other departments have no right to discuss it. As for those who have official positions and no positions, they no longer have the right to speak in the handling of anything. And you don't have a job, and the emperor has the final say. And at the same time, the emperor can't mess around, even if you appoint a villain to have an official position, but in the general direction, it is not the villain's opinion.

Although such a system change is more complicated, which dynasty's system can be simple?

The second change is that Zhao Yu set the official position of the counselor from the fourth grade, which was held by Su Qian, although he participated in the court meeting, he was not responsible for any specific things. Some people have the right to express their views only at the court meeting. In this way, Su Qian will not delay his actual work, but he needs to move the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce to Tokyo. At the end of his four-year term, a new President will take his place. Quite a role as a court observation liaison.

There are not only counselors, but also Qing doctors, who are elected from the Tai Academy, and the term of office is also four years, they are the main body of the Qing Council, and there is less interest compared with other officials. The two newly established official positions are from the fourth grade, and they are neither promoted nor demoted, and this piece of money is not issued.

Zhao Yu also said in an exclusive interview that after the spring official holiday, he will discuss whether to establish a reserve and such a national event.

Another big change is that after all the imperial examination jinshi have achieved meritorious service, they will be sent to various localities to serve as honest inspection envoys for three years. The first is to verify the ability of these people, and the second is to stop the local officials from bullying and oppressing the common people, resulting in the failure of the imperial court's government affairs and arbitrary deduction. After three years, the officials will evaluate the merits and disadvantages, and those who are greedy for ink will be removed from their reputations, and those who have close contacts with local officials will also be dealt with as appropriate. This hand is still the first time to *** local power, and at the same time to alleviate the contradictions between the common people and the grassroots officials.