Chapter 332 Flood
After hearing this, Liu Zhengqing was silent for a while and said: "Your Majesty's words are very reasonable. I have learned from it."
He couldn't refute Zhao Xing's point of view. It couldn't be said that scholar-bureaucrats should not reflect on themselves and punish themselves.
"But I have no intention of discussing this with Your Majesty today. The way the scholars used their opinions may be inappropriate. Your Majesty should be open-minded and open-minded. Why should you be so ignorant? The scholars have studied hard for many years. Seeing the imperial examination approaching, they have been deprived of their honors by Your Majesty. , and are still in jail. Doing this will not only destroy them, but also chill the hearts of scholars all over the world." Liu Zhengqing said.
"Liu Yushi's words are wrong."
Zhao Xing shook his head and said: "The imperial court opened the way for speech. The imperial court has a Dengwen Drum Division. There are Dengwen Drums in many places in Bianjing City. Scholars do not have no channels to express their opinions. If they want to make suggestions, they should also beat the Dengwen Drum and pass the Dengwen Drum. Drums, how can you go through such an extreme method?”
"These scholars, after passing the imperial examination, are going to become officials in the court, but they ignore the etiquette and rules, obstruct the execution, and block the palace gate. The imperial guards at the palace gate once drove away, but they threatened to see me. If there is anyone hiding among them Assassin, I went out of the palace to see them and was assassinated. Do you bear the responsibility?”
"This..." Liu Zhengqing was speechless.
They are not afraid that Zhao Xing will not listen to them, because they will reason with Zhao Xing.
But Zhao Xing reasoned with them in turn, and what he said was very reasonable, leaving them a little confused what to do.
At that time, Emperor Taizu ordered people to set up Dengwen drums in various important thoroughfares in Bianjing City in order to spread the voice.
It is stipulated that if any suggestions related to court affairs, military secrets, public and private interests, etc., or requests for favors, complaints of grievances, contributions of magical arts, etc., cannot reach the emperor as usual, the drum can be beaten.
The Dengwen Drum Court was a department that specifically accepted complaints from drummers, conducted a simple investigation and verification, and then forwarded them to the emperor.
Not to mention these scholars, even those officials who wanted to complain to the emperor Zhao Xing in person but were not qualified to participate in the morning court still had to go through the Denwen Drum Courtyard.
This is the normal way.
Moreover, Zhao Xing was also involved in the assassination, which made them even more unable to refute.
"Your Majesty, those scholars did make mistakes, but the law does not punish everyone, and everyone should not be deprived of their honors." Liu Zhengqing said.
"Yes." The others agreed one after another: "Your Majesty is a holy king, how can he be the same as these people? I beg your Majesty to restore their honors."
"Absurd!" Zhao Xing said lightly: "I have only heard that princes who break the law are guilty of the same crime as the common people. I have never heard of any law that does not punish everyone. There are more rebels. Could it be that we can't be held accountable? These scholars know the law and break the law, and the crime is increased by one. Wait, it is trivial to take away their fame. You are all officials of the imperial court, but you are not afraid of being laughed at by the world if you say such superficial things."
"Your Majesty, this matter was not considered carefully by my ministers, but it is inappropriate for your Majesty to reward the family members of the criminal officials to the court officials. The criminal officials have already received the punishment they deserve, so why would your Majesty humiliate his family members like this?" Liu Zhengqing said.
"How have I ever humiliated them? After being trained in the Jiaofang Division, they were either treated as official prostitutes or given as slaves to meritorious ministers. I directly rewarded them to the ministers, but they were still concubines. They were grateful to me before it was too late." Zhao Xing said lightly.
Zhao Xing finally realized that these people were here to cause trouble for him.
"This..." Liu Zhengqing was rendered speechless by Zhao Xing's absurd reasoning.
"If nothing happens, please step back. I still have to consider the earthquake disaster." Zhao Xing waved his hand.
"I'll leave!"
Liu Zhengqing and the others had no choice but to bow and retreat.
They are not afraid of the emperor being unreasonable. Anyway, they are not afraid of death and dare to be tough.
They are not afraid of the emperor being reasonable, because the emperor cannot convince them.
But when they encountered someone like Zhao Xing who could convince them with reason, they were helpless.
Zhao Xing shook his head. He originally wanted to use the topic to save Zhu Shiquan's life, but now that there is such a commotion, it will be difficult to deal with it in a short time.
But don't be in a hurry. The investigation into Zhu Shiquan's matter is slow and somewhat delayed.
It would be good to let him suffer more in prison. Just as he was preparing to handle government affairs, a chamberlain came in and bowed: "Your Majesty, the Grand Prime Minister wants to see you!"
Zhao Xing was startled when he heard this. Not long after Han Zhang left, why did he come back?
"Let him come in!" Zhao Xing waved his hand.
"Yes!"
The chamberlain withdrew, and after a while Han Zhang walked in with an anxious expression.
"I pay my respects to Your Majesty!"
"What happened to the Grand Prime Minister?" Zhao Xing asked urgently.
He rarely saw anxiety on Han Zhang's face, and he had a bad feeling in his heart.
"Your Majesty! Jiangzhou, Jizhou and other four prefectures have sent urgent reports, saying that heavy rain has fallen in these four prefectures for several days and there is a risk of floods." Han Zhang said.
"What?"
Zhao Xing stood up suddenly after hearing this, and said with an ugly face: "What is the situation in the four states now?"
"The water levels of the rivers in the four prefectures have risen seriously, and many villages have been submerged. The four prefectures are rescuing the flooded people. However, when the emergency report was sent, the heavy rain continued. It is still unknown what the situation is now," Han Zhang said. .
"Asshole, why didn't you report it earlier?" Zhao Xing said angrily.
"Your Majesty, it is not the officials of several states to blame for this matter. It rained too hard and it only lasted three days. Moreover, it is important to arrange disaster relief at this time." Han Zhang said.
"That's what the Grand Prime Minister said." Zhao Xing calmed down a little and ordered Sanshui to send someone to summon all the ministers to discuss the matter.
"Master, now that the people in the four states are suffering from disaster, the top priority is to mobilize ships and soldiers to rescue the trapped people. The second is the problem of food. How much food is left in the granaries of various places in the Song Dynasty?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Because the Great Wall is being built in the north, a lot of food is consumed. I don't know the specific number. However, according to emergency reports, it is feared that no less than a million people in the four prefectures have been affected by the disaster. The food in these people's homes may have been flooded. We need relief from the court. If the heavy rain continues, the number of people affected will increase and more food will be needed. The court's food reserves will definitely be insufficient, and we will need to spend money to buy food." Han Zhang said.
"Then arrange for people to buy grain in various places as soon as possible." Zhao Xing said.
Han Zhang smiled bitterly and said: "But there is not enough money in the treasury, and as the news spreads, the price of food will inevitably rise!"
"If anyone dares to raise prices, I will kill him!" Zhao Xing said coldly: "The imperial court will improve the status of merchants and allow their sons and daughters to participate in the imperial examination. If there is a national crisis and there are still people who dare to enrich the country, don't blame me for being cruel. ”
"If Your Majesty does this, what should we do if those grain dealers control the grain and do not sell it? And even if the price is not increased, the court will not have enough money to buy grain." Han Zhang said.
Zhao Xing pondered for a while and said: "Send someone to buy it first. I have a way to deal with the money."
He had not originally planned to use the method of printing more banknotes now.
The current financial problem of the Song Dynasty is a big hole, and no amount of money can fill it.
He planned to use this method in the future when he lacked military funds to launch troops against Xixia or Liao.
Now it seems that we can't wait that long.
"Yes!" Han Zhang responded.
(End of chapter)