Chapter 25: Sense of Powerlessness
The Song Dynasty had a very interesting rule, which was that scholar-bureaucrats were not to be killed.
There is even a story that Emperor Taizu erected an oath stele in the Ancestral Temple, which engraved the inscription not to kill scholar-bureaucrats and officials. When future emperors succeeded to the throne and went to the Ancestral Temple to worship, they were required to swear an oath in front of the oath stele. Come.
In fact, it has not yet been determined whether there is a so-called oath monument.
But one thing can be confirmed, the emperors of the Song Dynasty never said not to kill scholar-bureaucrats.
Everyone knows that Zhu Yuanzhang was very ruthless in killing corrupt officials, but the founder of the country also killed many people. Historical records record that he killed thousands of people.
However, as the situation of emphasizing civility and suppressing military power became more and more serious, the civil servant family became the dominant one. Other dynasties also had military commanders, lords, relatives, and eunuchs as balances of power.
In the Song Dynasty, there were no such so-called checks and balances. I don’t know when it started, but an unspoken rule of not killing civil servants gradually formed.
If a civil official violates the law, he will be fined lightly, demoted in more severe cases, or exiled in the most serious case.
Zhu Yuanzhang's methods of punishing corruption were so ruthless, but some people still took desperate risks. The Song Dynasty was so lax, and officials became even more unscrupulous.
If the Song Dynasty punished corrupt officials very severely, even if some people would still be corrupt, it would not be like now. The entire salt affairs system was complicit in corruption, and the emperor had no idea about it.
And Zhao Xing didn’t believe that no one in the entire court was aware of the problem.
Judging from the fact that Zhao Zongquan wanted to thoroughly investigate the salt affairs in the original drama, and almost all civil and military officials in the court opposed it, many people in the court actually knew it.
Of course, this does not mean that they are all involved.
These officials should have their own interest chains, so even if they knew, they would not say anything.
When Zhao Zongquan investigated the salt affairs, he would object regardless of whether he was in this chain of interests or not. After all, who knows if the emperor will check other things after checking the salt affairs.
Inspecting the salt affairs is only the first step, the most important thing is the management of officials.
If the problem cannot be solved fundamentally, even if it is investigated clearly, the problem will still appear in a few years.
Zhao Xing wants to form an organization similar to Jinyiwei.
In the long run, the existence of such an institution will do more harm than good.
Such institutions are inherently difficult to restrict.
But if we want to change the weak situation of the Song Dynasty, we must solve the internal problems. If we want to solve the internal problems, an institution to monitor the world is indispensable.
However, if you want to establish such an organization, the resistance must be very high. No one wants to have a sharp sword hanging over their head that can fall at any time.
Zhao Xing still needs to carefully consider how to do it.
While thinking wildly, the carriage stopped at the gate of the palace. Zhao Xing got off the carriage and put on the chariot, and went all the way to Longtuge.
The official was reviewing the memorial. When he learned that Zhao Xing was coming, he put down his pen and had someone pass it in.
"My son, I pay homage to my father." Zhao Xing walked into the hall and saluted.
"Fuer came to my father to talk."
The official waved and then said to Eunuch Liu: "Let them all go down."
"Yes. ! ”
Eunuch Liu bowed and left with the maids and eunuchs waiting in the palace.
"Meet Gu Erlang's grandfather? What did he say?" The official asked Zhao Xing with a smile as he sat down beside him.
Zhao Xing repeated what Mr. Bai said to his father and said angrily: "Father, these people deserve to be killed!"
After hearing this, the smile on the official's face disappeared. , but did not show too much anger, he pondered for a while and asked: "He just told you so simply?"
Now that the salt merchant has obtained the salt, he can buy it at a low price. The salt cited the same number of good salts, which shows that the Bai family also participated in private salt.
Logically speaking, it's not that easy to tell the truth. "Father, don't believe it?" Zhao Xing asked.
"No." The official shook his head and said, "I believe it, but I feel a little strange. Did you promise him something?"
" Erchen didn't promise anything, but he made a condition that he would find out the cause of his daughter's death for him." Zhao Xing said.
Yes, Mr. Bai's condition was to ask Zhao Xing to help find out the cause of his daughter's death, but he did not require Zhao Xing to do it.
"Is it that simple?" Guan Jia asked in surprise.
"My son was a little strange at first, but after thinking about it carefully, I probably understand. The only daughter besides Bai Yuan has passed away long ago. Now Gu Tingye is the only grandson left, and the family business will probably be left to Gu Tingye . He should have guessed that the court wanted to investigate the salt affairs, so he didn't hide it," Zhao Xing said.
When he went to see Mr. Bai, he had thought that Mr. Bai would weigh the pros and cons and be unwilling to say more or fight for his own interests.
However, Mr. Bai didn't have any of them, which surprised him.
After thinking about it carefully, I realized how smart Mr. Bai was.
As he said, he is already old and has only a few years left to live.
He only has a grandson like Gu Tingye. Even if he has to consider pros and cons and interests, it is all for Gu Tingye.
Mr. Bai should know from Gu Tingye that Zhao Xing values him very much.
If he uses this matter to fight for the interests of Gu Tingye, not only will he not be able to help Gu Tingye, but he will also harm him.
If his daughter's death had not become an obsession in his heart, he would not even mention that condition.
After all, the conditions proposed at that time were somewhat threatening.
That’s why he first told what Zhao Xing wanted to know, and finally put forward his conditions without asking Zhao Xing to make any guarantee.
In other words, although Zhao Xing agreed, it would be fine even if he didn't do it.
"I know."
The official nodded and said, "You should go back first. By the way, I have already told Eunuch Liu about sending people to Yangzhou. , you can ask him when you leave, if you have chosen someone.”
"Father, now that we have a clear understanding of the salt affairs, how do you plan to deal with it?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Even if what he said is true, we should collect evidence secretly now and not alert the snake. Fu'er, you have to remember that you have to make a decision before doing anything. This matter involves a lot. , Don't be anxious, I will take care of it. Just study hard now." Guan Jia said with a smile.
“Yes, I will retire!”
Zhao Xing originally wanted to ask his father how he planned to deal with those officials, but it was too early to ask this question, so he did not ask.
After leaving the palace gate, Eunuch Liu who was waiting at the door quickly bowed and saluted.
Zhao Xing stopped and said: "Eunuch Liu, my father asked you to choose someone to go to Yangzhou. Have you made your choice?"
"Back to Your Highness, I have already made your choice because His Highness has left the palace. , I didn’t let him go, and the old slave immediately informed him to go see His Highness," Eunuch Liu said quickly.
"Okay, I will go to Yongning Hall now. You have someone come to Yongning Hall to find me." Zhao Xing said.
“Yes!” Eunuch Liu responded quickly.
……
Zhao Xing returned to Yongning Hall and sighed. He found that the more he knew about the situation in the Song Dynasty, the more powerless he felt.
Salt affairs alone are such a big problem, it is conceivable that other problems may be serious.
Fortunately, there is a father in front of him to support him. He can give him ideas and let him take his time.
Thanks to Mingyue Yinggui for your monthly ticket support.
(End of this chapter)