Chapter 247 Chapter 246 The Villain and the Gentleman
Before Yan Kuan could speak, Zhao Xing looked at his father who was looking up, bowed and said: "Father, I recently received the Ten Thousand People Umbrella. It was the people who thanked Erchen for renting the cleared acres of land to them for planting. They also thanked Erchen for implementing the Green Crop Law, which allowed them to have money to buy cattle and farm tools.
Shilang Yan said that Erchen was deceived. , but all the names on the Wanmin Umbrella have been identified. Isn’t this what the people want?”
“If it is true, it is what the people want!” The official nodded.
Hearing this, Zhao Xing turned to look at Yan Kuan and said with a smile: "Why don't you give the Wanmin umbrella to Yan Shilang, and Yan Shilang will take it to verify one by one to see if the people are sincere and whether Gu has been deceived? ”
The corners of Yan Kuan's mouth twitched, and he didn't know what to say for a moment.
The so-called Wanmin Umbrella is an umbrella given by the people to praise the virtues of the country. There are many small silk strips on the umbrella, and the name of the giver is written on it.
Of course it is impossible for the Wanmin Umbrella to have tens of thousands of signatures. Generally, a few hundred people would be great.
But don’t think that an official is a really good official if he gets umbrellas from the people.
Although education was popularized in the Song Dynasty, the number of literate people was far greater than that of previous dynasties.
However, the overall proportion is still very low. Those who can sign the Wanmin Umbrella are local squires and businessmen, not ordinary people in the true sense.
When officials hold office in the local area, they only need to maintain good relations with the gentry and merchants and provide them with some conveniences. When they leave office, it is easy for them to give them a Ten Thousand People Umbrella to increase their reputation.
Yan Kuan naturally knows the meaning of this. He got this thing when he was serving in the local government.
But Zhao Xing's confident look made him a little unsure.
It’s impossible to tell whether Zhao Xing was just making random remarks or whether he was prepared.
"I implemented the Green Crops Law and did not change the ancestral law. It was just because the situation in Kaifeng Prefecture was adapted to the current conditions. The acres of land cleared out last year were rented to the people, but these people lacked farm tools and cattle, so I asked the government to lend money to them. People buy farming tools and tools, does Yan Shilang think Gu did something wrong?" Zhao Xingxiao looked at Yan Kuan with a smile.
Yan Kuan's heart tightened, Zhao Xing's smile was very warm, but he couldn't help but shudder, but he still gritted his teeth and said: "If it is true as His Highness said, Your Highness is certainly right. Yes. But His Highness’s implementation of the Green Miao Law was not reported to the court, which is inconsistent with etiquette. And can His Highness guarantee that there will be no problems with the Qing Miao Law?”
Zhao Xing raised his lips and said, “This matter has been reported to me. Father, father said that I used the money from Kaifeng Mansion and the counties under its jurisdiction, and did not ask the court for money, so there was no need to discuss it. "
The officials at the top glared at Zhao fiercely upon hearing this. Looking at Xing, Zhao Xing didn't tell him about this at all.
The officials were angry, but they did not expose Zhao Xing.
Zhao Xing didn't know this and said to himself: "As for Yan Shilang's concern about problems with the Green Miao Law, I have also considered this matter. I have no intention of promoting it nationwide. In Kaifeng Mansion, I will only use it in these two places." It will be used within the year. Is there any problem, Sir Yan?”
Yan Kuan was a little surprised when he heard this, and quickly came to his senses, shaking his head and saying: “I don’t know that your highness has such far-sighted plans, and I’m a bit unfounded. Please forgive me, your majesty and your highness. ! ”
Since Zhao Xing promised not to promote the Green Seed Law nationwide, Kaifeng Prefecture will only use it for one or two years, which is a disguised form of submission.
Their intention in impeachment was that they were worried that Zhao Xing would be influenced by Wang Anshi and implement reforms in the future.
Now that Zhao Xing has surrendered, there is no need to continue making trouble.
When the officials heard this, they were filled with doubts. Why did Zhao Xing suddenly succumb?
Not only the officials, but also Han Zhang and other officials in the court who were interested in reform were shocked, confused and disappointed when they heard this.
Zhao Xingqing measured acres of land and implemented the Young Crops Law, which had vague intentions of reform. However, those in the court who supported the reform did not come forward to support Zhao Xing when he was made things difficult by the conservative faction.
The reason for this is that the officials were scared back then.
They are also afraid that Zhao Xing is just acting on a whim and is not firm and is still waiting and watching.
Moreover, Zhao Xing is still just the prince. Even if he wants to reform, he will have to wait until he ascends the throne in the future.
So they are in no rush to come out in support.
Firstly, I wanted to see if Zhao Xing was determined to reform.
Secondly, they are waiting for the opportunity. After all, the number of reformists in the court is not large. If they jump out to support Zhao Xing at this time, they will inevitably be suppressed by the conservatives.
But Zhao Xing's sudden surrender completely disappointed them.
If they support Zhao Xing's reform, won't they end up with the same fate as Mr. Fan and others in the future?
"Now that this matter has passed, we are not allowed to mention it again in the future. Let us withdraw from the court." The official waved his hand.
"I would like to send you off to your Majesty!"
"I would like to send you off to Your Majesty!"
Everyone bowed and saluted, and then straightened up after the officials left.
Zhao Xing looked at Yan Kuan, smiled, and left the hall.
Yan Kuan was a little hairy when Zhao Xing laughed at him, and he always felt that things were not that simple.
Zhao Xing walked out of the hall, and a chamberlain came forward to salute, saying that the official family was inviting him. Zhao Xing nodded and followed him to Longtuge.
"My son, I pay homage to my father!" Zhao Xing saluted.
The official dismissed the palace maid and eunuch serving in the palace, frowned and said: "The response method you told me does not include surrendering! Fu'er, didn't I tell you that you must be firm in order to change the law. If There are still some people in the government who support the reform. What will these people think if you surrender today? ""Father, I have not surrendered," Zhao Xing said with an innocent face.
"Why did you promise not to promote the Youth Law nationwide if you didn't give in?" the official frowned.
Hearing this, Zhao Xing asked: "Father, do you think Qingmiao Method is good?"
After hearing the words, the official pondered for a while and said: "I have also learned about Qingmiao Method, and it still has merits. "
"But Erchen feels that the Green Seedlings Law has too many disadvantages, which is why he said he does not intend to promote the Green Seedlings Law nationwide," Zhao Xing said.
"What disadvantages?" The official asked in confusion after hearing this.
“People!” Zhao Xing said lightly: “On its own, the Green Crops Law is naturally a very good policy, but the policy requires people to implement it, and people are the disadvantage of the Green Crops Law.
In In Kaifeng Mansion, there are children and ministers around, and officials dare not make any small moves. But if it is promoted nationwide, when the sky is high and the emperor is far away, those officials will just make small moves, and good policies to benefit the people will turn into policies that harm the people. "
"Is it so serious?" The officials were a little skeptical.
Zhao Xing said seriously: "Yes, and it is even more serious than what I said. Local officials can collude with the landlords and gentry and use tenants to borrow all the money. In the end, the money will not reach the hands of the people. At that time, the landlords and gentry would exploit the people even more ruthlessly
And how much money do local governments have to borrow? If the imperial court strongly supports it, the imperial court will be brought down by then. ”
Kaifeng Prefecture was able to implement the Young Crops Law because he was watching over it and officials could strictly follow the regulations to review it.
Once it was implemented across the country, landlords and gentry colluded with officials and used tenants to divert money All of it was borrowed, just to give some interest.
Anyway, it was impossible for the court to leave too much money for local officials to use for loans.
At worst, they would collect it when they lent money and grain to the people. In short, they do not need to bear the higher interest rate.
Local tax collection can be increased layer by layer, and there are many loopholes in the Youth Law.
If the officials think about it carefully, what Zhao Xing said may indeed happen. After a moment of silence, he said: "Then you shouldn't say that to the DPRK. What will it make the officials in the DPRK who support the reform think? In the future, if you ascend the throne and want to do something, they may not support you."
"If they don't support Erchen's reform because they think I am weak, do you think they really support the reform?" Zhao Xing asked rhetorically.
Most of those in the DPRK and China who still support the reform are officials left over from the failure of the New Deal.
Those who supported the New Deal back then, the older ones, suffered the blow and died in depression after the failure of the New Deal.
But the younger ones didn't. The officials felt guilty and treated them very well.
Many of them are now in the court, with high official positions.
Are these people really supporting the reform?
Zhao Xing doesn’t think so!
The New Deal was originally proposed by the government and received full support from the government at the beginning.
There are always some who will take advantage of the situation and support the new law for the sake of their future.
But when the new law failed, it was over for them to get off the ship.
The old guard cannot tolerate them. If they change their ways, their reputation will be damaged.
Although continuing to side with the reformists will have some impact on the future, they are not the main force behind the reform, and they are not the main target of the conservatives.
Later, the officials made up for the demoted officials of the reformists, and they all benefited, so naturally they would not betray.
In history, Wang Anshi's reforms created a mess. Could it be that the conservatives deliberately created it to prevent the reforms?
Actually, it is not the case. Most of them are made by officials who pretend to support the reform in order to gain benefits.
So Zhao Xing never had high expectations for the so-called reformists in the court from beginning to end.
"I understand what you said, but knowing is one thing and doing it is another. If you want to do something in the future, how can you do it without anyone's support?" the official frowned.
"Father, don't worry, I still understand the principle of giving a sweet date with a stick. In the eyes of the ministers of the court, my son is still young and lacks the city government, so it is difficult to do some impulsive things. It's normal. Besides, I'm the prince, so as long as I give them some favors in the future, there will be many people coming over to me." Zhao Xing said unconcernedly.
Over the years, Zhao Xing has gained some understanding of the way of the emperor.
Malchemy is complex to say the least, but it is actually very simple to say simple.
Except for a few ministers, most of them still care about interests.
To put it bluntly, they are just grass on the wall. Whichever way the wind blows, they will fall.
Take the current conservatives as an example. No matter what Zhao Xing does now, they will jump out to oppose it and create trouble for Zhao Xing.
But as long as Zhao Xing can bring them benefits, they can immediately change their tune and support Zhao Xing unswervingly.
This kind of person is actually very pure and only has interests in his heart.
In Zhao Xing's opinion, it is more useful than those pedantic literati who claim to serve the country and the people.
It is the difference between a gentleman and a villain.
(End of this chapter)