In the Qinzheng Palace, the drizzle was misty, and the rain on the eaves dripped down, clattered and splashed on the ground.

The forbidden troops on the corridor outside the hall are fierce and fierce, standing solemnly, with three steps and one post, five steps and one sentry, protecting the new master of this empire.

In the imperial study, Wang Gang and Hu Mengyu, and another Wu Wenying sat at Zhao Hong's imperial table, and replied respectfully, and everyone's hearts were up and down.

The emperor summoned them, needless to say, to entrust them with a heavy task.

"Wang Gang, Hu Mengyu, I first stated in advance that I want to reuse the two of you. I want to thank you for doing things for the country and doing a good job. If I have a black heart and no original intention of serving the country and the people, I will not be merciful. ”

Zhao Hong is serious, Wang Gang and Hu Mengyu are solemn.

Sure enough, they were about to soar into the sky.

Wu Wenying's heart sank, and she was slightly lost.

The emperor called him, did he just catch up with him?

"A few members of the Qing family came here today, and they must have a stomach problem. Let's speak freely and exchange experiences. ”

Zhao Hong looked at the embarrassed faces of the few people, and suddenly threw out a vulgar topic.

"What is the royal road?"

He is not pretending to be a ghost, but this is about the implementation of the new policy on Jiangnan East Road, and he has to ask.

and his teacher Zhen Deok-so, as well as several governors, he did not talk about this topic.

Listening to the arguments of these people, I also want to see if they are entrusted to a non-person.

He also has no choice, everything is to cross the river by feeling the stones. The Manchu Dynasty civil and military, such as Wang Anshi and Zhang Juzheng in history, did not seem to have capable ministers. Pull and pull, only by your own judgment.

The system is the guarantee for the implementation of the new policy.

"Your Majesty, the royal road is benevolent and kingly. King Xuan of Qi once asked Mencius for advice on "royal politics". Mencius's answer is: King Wen's rule is also Qiye, the cultivator is ninety-one, the scholar is Shilu, the market is ridiculed but not levied, the choice of Liang is not forbidden, the sinner is not old and has no wife for widowhood, the old and has no husband for widowhood, the old and childless is alone, and the young and fatherless is lonely. These four are the poor people of the world who have no complaints. King Wen is benevolent, and he must first do four. ”

Wang Gang and Hu Mengyu looked at each other, and Wang Gang was the first to speak.

Needless to say, this is a pre-appointment assessment.

Life is short, and he must be cautious in his face of saints. He is over half a hundred years old and has ambitions to make a career.

"The so-called benevolent government, in addition to lightening the punishment and reducing the punishment, should also show mercy to the widows and lonely and the poor who have no complaints. If the people have "perseverance", then the country must have "constant production", otherwise the people will be uneasy. Cang Liao knows etiquette, and knows honor and disgrace when he has enough food and clothing. This is benevolent government, and it is also the royal road, and the right path taken by the Son of Heaven. ”

"If you don't violate the agricultural time, the grain can't be eaten; The number of dogs does not enter the pond, and the fish and turtles cannot be eaten; The axe catty enters the mountains and forests at the right time, and the timber is not usable. Grain and fish and turtles can not be eaten, timber and wood can not be used, it is to make the people live and die without regrets. There is no regret in health and death, and the beginning of the royal road is also. ”

Hu Mengyu also spoke, obviously having his own judgment.

Although he is less than forty years, he is only a seven-rank small official, although he does not know what position the emperor has appointed him, but the Son of Heaven's ear has made his heart tremble and blood hot.

"The officials rule the Qingming, reduce the people's servitude, the people have enough food and clothing, don't be frightened, and you can't see a hope. This is the "royal road". ”

Wu Wenying has traveled all over the world, knows the people's livelihood and suffering, is down-to-earth, and has his own opinions.

The explanations of several people made Zhao Hong nod with satisfaction.

Unbiased and non-party, the royal road is swinging. Confucius ruled the world with benevolence and courtesy, while Mencius mostly took "benevolence" as the way to govern the country. Benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom and faith are the basic norms of social practice.

"Governing the country with benevolence is a time when the country is safe and secure. Now it is a world of great contention, the land annexation of the Great Song Dynasty, the depreciation of Huizi, the soaring prices, and the presence of strong enemies, full of dangers. ”

Zhao Hong said softly, and shifted to reform and change the law.

"I have gained and lost the "Xifeng New Law", I don't know what a few Qing families think? ”

The "Xifeng New Law" is Wang Anshi's reform, which ultimately ended in failure. The party dispute caused by the change of law laid the root of the bane for the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty, which was also the unanimous view of the government and the opposition in the Southern Song Dynasty.

"What I mean is, is Wang Anshi's change of law really useless? Speak freely, don't cower, I want the truth. ”

Wang Gang and Hu Mengyu looked at each other, and they both knew it.

It is not so much that Wang Anshi changed the law, but that the Son of Heaven wanted to know from them whether they had the confidence to implement the new policy.

During the Song and Song dynasties, the government and the opposition, Wang Anshi's changes were basically denied.

"Urgent government" or "harsh government", or "competing with the people for profit", so that the "party struggle" continued, which led to the demise of the Northern Song Dynasty.

During the Northern Song Dynasty, its opponents, such as Sima Guang and others, criticized Wang Anshi's reform by means of historical revision. In the Southern Song Dynasty, the imperial court once again qualitatively characterized its changes by revising history, pointing out that Wang Anshi's changes caused the Northern Song Dynasty to be destroyed.

The new emperor overturned the case for Yue Fei and Han Yanxuan, did he also have to "redress grievances" for Wang Anshi's change of law?

"Your Majesty, during the Yuanfeng period of Shenzong, whether it was land reclamation, prosperity of the market, the number of households, or the surplus of the imperial court's wealth, it was the most in my dynasty. The officials of the Shenzong Dynasty are clear and clear, and the officials are honest and diligent, which can be described as good. ”

Hu Mengyu was the first to speak, his face flushed.

"Your Majesty, if you compare the before and after changes, you will see the difference. During the reign of Renzong, the expenditure of redundant officials, redundant expenses, and redundant soldiers was huge, the treasury was empty, and the financial endowment could not make ends meet, which was very different from that of Yuanfeng. But the Divine Sect suddenly stopped, and the change came to an abrupt end. In the future, all the kings followed the "ancestral family law", and the benefits were not hundred, and the law was not changed, so that our dynasty accumulated many evils, traitorous ministers were in power, and the people's livelihood withered. ”

Wang Gang then spoke.

As the prefect of Shaoxing, he has a deeper understanding of people's livelihood and suffering.

"My Da Song has accumulated a lot of shortcomings, and I have to change the law to become stronger. Traditionally, the change of law has been to cross the river by feeling the stones, and it is impossible to have smooth sailing. If you find the shortcomings, you can adjust and improve them. If you don't change the law because you are afraid of failure or risk, you can only stick to the old ways, and in the end, it will be difficult to return, and the country will be wiped out. ”

Zhao Hong looked at Wang Gang and asked softly:

"Wang Qing, you are in Shaoxing Mansion and are well versed in the hardships of people's livelihood. I want to know, what is the purpose of being an official? Is it really a thousand-mile official, just to be promoted and make a fortune? ”

This Wang Gang, in every term, has a political voice. It can be said that it is for the benefit of one party for the first term of office. In addition, this person has a lot of knowledge, soldiers, farmers, doctors, and yin and yang laws are all refined.

It is rumored that this person's clothes and sedan cars are old, and he is an all-rounder for his thrifty officials. Give it a try.

"Your Majesty, serve as an official for one term and benefit one party. This is the minister's experience. ”

Wang Gang's old face flushed, and he bowed and replied.

As the prefect of Shaoxing, he deals with people's livelihood matters every day, deals with floods, builds water conservancy, and helps the hungry.

Speaking of which, he has also done bribes, but his ethics are okay, and he fights pettily, but there is no ambiguity in major matters.

In terms of personal sentiment, he is still trustworthy.

"Okay, for the sake of the official, for the benefit of one party. But if it is a change, for what? ”

Zhao Hong continued to ask.

"If you are poor, you will change, and if you change, you will be able to do it for a long time. Changing the law to become strong is nothing more than the words "rich country and strong army". Your Majesty reminded me that the two of us are not far away, and we should be careful. As long as Your Majesty does not retreat, the ministers will definitely be pawns and charge into battle, so as not to worry Your Majesty. ”

Wang Gang bowed again, respectfully.

The failure of the reform, in the final analysis, is still the absence of a strong king, without the support of the monarchy.

"Your Majesty, whether it is to train a new army, build roads and build ships, or build armor and weapons, you need money. If you don't change the law, the money that comes from? Without money, how can we talk about strong soldiers? Once Your Majesty wants to implement a new policy, he must not give up halfway, otherwise the reform of the law will end in nothing. ”

Hu Mengyu said with a dark face, pointing out the fate of the change.

"You two are in my army!"

Zhao Hong nodded slightly and looked at the two of them appreciatively.

"Listen up, a few of you. I will fully support you, and it will be a few of you who will implement the new policy on Jiangnan East Road. ”

Smart people don't need to say it a second time. These two people know the lifeline of innovation and change, not only promises, this is the cadre.

It seems that letting these two go to Jiangnan East Road, at least it won't be bad.

"Your Majesty let ...... The two of us went to Jiangnan East Road to implement the new law? ”

Hu Mengyu's heart was beating wildly, and he opened his mouth to ask.

"Do you know why Xifeng's change of law was resisted by Manchu officials?"

Zhao Hong didn't answer Hu Mengyu's question, but asked.

Wang Gang and Hu Mengyu glanced at each other, Hu Mengyu was young and vigorous, and blurted out.

"Your Majesty, in Weichen's view, the reason why the change failed is just the people's hearts. If human nature is inherently good, frank and open, and everyone worries about the country and loves the people, why change the law? ”

"Your Majesty, it is still necessary to use competent officials, assisted by the law, and thunderous means to make the new policy smoothly implemented."

Wang Gang was old and continued.

Zhao Hong smiled and nodded appreciatively.

"Hu Qing, Wang Qing, you are right, the success or failure of innovation and law change, royal power is the foundation."

Zhao Hong finally put forward his own idea.

"The success of changing the law cannot be pinned on the good and evil of people's hearts. The royal road needs a strong royal power to promote, and this is one of them. The norms and support of the moral law make the officials clear and clear, and I have my own arrangements, and this is the second. You have my full support, and that's the third. But you have to do it yourself. In about three years, I want to make Jiangnan East Road a model for a country. Do you have faith? ”

Make Jiangnan East Road a model of a country!

Wang Gang and Hu Mengyu glanced at each other again, stood up together, and bowed.

"Your Majesty's teachings!"

The ancient capital of the six dynasties of Jinling, built near the river, the city is high and the pond is thick, and the strategic position is extremely important. Zhao Hong took Jiangnan East Road as the test area, and his determination to change the law can be imagined.

Reminiscent of Zhao Hong's newly built lecture hall in Jinling City, looking north of the rivers and mountains, the importance of Jinling can be imagined.

With the full support of the emperor, as well as the law and the escort of important officials, although the pressure on his heart is great, he is also full of ambition. If you can live up to the king's expectations, enter the ranks of the ruling government, or benefit one party, you will leave a name in history, and you can almost get it at your fingertips.

may be able to compare, or surpass Wang Anshi, but it may not be impossible.

"All innovations and changes should not be stormy, but gradual. For example, when I arrived in Jinling, the first major event was to clear the fields and find out the hidden omissions in taxation. At the same time, we have set up an anti-corruption department to eliminate corruption and bribery to ensure the smooth implementation of the new Jiangnan East Road policy. ”

For thousands of years, China has been a humane society, and only by replacing the rule of man with the rule of law and ruling by officials can the root cause be cured.

"Your Majesty, the implementation of the new policy, the clearing of acres of land, the recovery of hidden taxes, the next is to implement the meridian law?"

Wang Gang's heart was heavy, and he subconsciously asked.

The Song Dynasty traveled south for a hundred years, and the meridian method was tried many times, but all of them were in vain. The power of obstruction can be seen.

The emperor was fierce, and the bombs were all carried to the main hall, and the blade was bleeding five steps. The emperor will definitely push to the end, and when the time comes, I am afraid that there will be a river of blood and people's heads rolling.

"Not bad. Qingzhang acres is the means, and the meridian law is the goal. It was first piloted on Jiangnan East Road, and then extended to Liangzhejiang, Jinghu, Sichuan and other prefectures. Within ten years, or even sooner, I will try the Boundary Law in the Great Song Dynasty. ”

Zhao Hong said eloquently, full of ambition and confidence.

It is really strange that those predecessors, as the kings of a country, actually returned in vain in the face of the difficulties of changing the law!

Since you can't do it, it's all rubbish, so let him do it. He wanted to see who dared to stand in the way.