Prime Minister

Chapter 540 Seeing the Emperor (Two Updates in One)
After Cai Jing was seated, he reported recent events to Zhang Yue.

For Cai Jing, Zhang Yue felt a little emotional.

When I was studying in the past, it was said that Wang Anshi's reform failed in the end, which was the reason for the demise of the Northern Song Dynasty.

But the question is, did Wang Anshi's reform really fail?
Do you know that Cai Jing, who was the fourth prime minister in Song Huizong, abolished Wang Anshi's reform?

absolutely not.

And on the contrary, he carried out Wang Anshi's idea of ​​reform.The most important thing about Wang Anshi's reform is not the young crop law, the market change law, etc., these are superficial, not the real content.

The most important core of Wang Anshi's reform is a sentence that Zhang Yue saw in the article written by Wang Anshi on the stone wall when he went to the branch hall of the third division.

That is the law of 'he who unites the wealth of the world and manages the wealth of the world'.

This sentence can completely summarize all the thoughts of Wang Anshi's reform.

It means that the money collected from the people belongs to the imperial court, and then distributed through the imperial court!

As for Cai Jing, he absorbed this sentence but made extreme changes, and finally came up with "Feng Heng Yu Da" and "Wei Wang Can't".

Cai Jing and Zhang Yue talked about the recent operation of the Exchange, and Zhang Yue listened quite appreciatively.Since he left the Exchange, Cai Jing has indeed taken the management of the Exchange to a higher level.

Zhang Yue said: "One thing, the dozen or so businessmen arrested in Daming Mansion last time, do they have anything to do with you?"

Cai Jing heard the words and said: "That's right, it was the students who suggested to Ji Xiang."

The merchants in Daming Mansion set up a non-governmental version of the exchange, and then it was closed down by the court, and the merchants were all arrested.

"Did you cut off the exchange's source of income?"

Cai Jing said: "Yes... that's true."

Zhang Yue said: "Although this incident did not surprise me, I did not expect... Yuan Chang, you still impress me."

"It's the students who didn't do it properly."

Zhang Yue said: "I don't blame you. Guan Zhong advocates Guanshanhai, Sang Hongyang has the theory of salt and iron, and there is also a ban on tea and alcohol in this dynasty, but now sooner or later there will be a ban on intercourse."

"But things that haven't started yet have been done ahead of time."

Only then did Zhang Yue establish Jiaoyin Prison, and Cai Jing thought of a monopoly like the salt and iron franchise, using power to suppress any private businessmen who entered this area.

Cai Jingdao: "Teacher, I have seen the exchange and reference office run by daimyo. They are doing very well. They not only take advantage of our Bianjing Exchange and Reference Institute's strengths, but also have no shortcomings of ours."

"For example, the handling fee has been reduced from 150 cash per table to [-] cash, but they only charge [-] cash, and even [-] cash for big merchants."

"Many salt merchants left Bianjing and went to Daming Mansion to trade salt banknotes. After all, we are run by the imperial court and dare not lend money privately. However, many merchants in Daming Mansion were quality warehouse merchants before, and the money they earned from selling salt banknotes was directly Store it in your own storage, and do whatever you want."

"Over the years, in order to win the favor of the three officials, the students have continuously donated money and money. It was very difficult for the court ministers to ignore the exchange as extortion. But these businessmen did nothing, and now the road will be paved. Ping, they sit back and reap the rewards."

"Teacher, the students have no choice but to do this. Otherwise, this painstaking and painstaking intercourse will be... Teacher, if the court does not ban it, private officials are now in power, so there is no room for public officials." ?”

Zhang Yue said: "I know what you said, I can't blame you for this matter, but there is still room for action, let go of these dozen businessmen immediately, don't make enemies everywhere."

Cai Jingdao: "The students understand, and the students have learned the lesson. In the first half of the year, they will immediately set up Jiaoyin prisons in Damingfu and Chengdu, and they will deal with Liaoguo and Dali, but the fee will be reduced to two hundred. Wen is indeed difficult to do in a short time."

Zhang Yue saw that Cai Jing had learned his lesson, so he said: "If we can't do it, we can't do it. We are a big ship. It is difficult to turn around when the ship is big. There are many places that need to be repaired. Naturally, there will be more idlers on weekdays. "

Cai Jingdao: "Thank you, teacher. The students are still planning to use Luoyang and Jingzhao Fen to do that. This time, they will increase their capital by 300 shares and sell them to the private sector. One share will be sold for [-] guan, and they will raise [-] million guan. As for the Daming Mansion , Chengdu’s sub-introduction and exchange exchange still account for [-]% of the shares, and the rest will be entered by local officials.”

Zhang Yue said: "You don't need to ask me about this matter, just do it yourself."

Zhang Yuexin thought that even if the shares in the stock exchange rose from [-] shares to [-] shares, and now it is [-] shares, it is estimated that it will still be hard to find a share for sale.

Zhang Yue said to Cai Jing: "First ask the third division, the Shaanxi transfer division, how many shares do they want to buy?"

Cai Jingdao: "The students have already asked. Before, Jixiang wanted to buy [-] shares, and Xue Yunsi wanted to buy [-] shares. Originally, they wanted to buy more. At the same time, the two empress dowagers..."

Zhang Yue said heartily, the price of this one hundred guan is really low, and the additional shares have been pre-determined.

A share of [-] Guan is really profitable when you buy it.

Cai Jing asked, "Teacher, is there anything you want to buy here?"

Zhang Yue originally wanted to refuse, but after thinking about it, he finally said, "Ask my wife about this matter."

After Cai Jing left, Zhang Yue lamented that the monetization of salt banknotes had taken another step forward. Sooner or later, the imperial court would include Huaiyan and other salt banknotes in the category of salt banknotes.

What Cai Jing will do decades later, I am doing it ahead of time now.

Cai Jing finally moved all the gold and silver exchanged for salt banknotes into Song Huizong's warehouse. The annual income of salt banknotes in the Song Dynasty rose from 200 million to 2000 million.

Zhang Yue is about to rest.

At this time, the outsider said: "A soldier from Shaanxi came outside and said his name was Wang Yin, and he insisted on seeing the master."

Zhang Yue thought, could it be Wang Shao?

Zhang Yue immediately said, "Let him come to see you."

When Zhang Yue saw that the other party was really Wang Shao.

Zhang Yue couldn't help scolding at the sight: "Zichun is so bold, how dare he come to see me in private?"

Wang Shao was called to Beijing to meet the emperor first, and before that, he visited the minister's mansion privately. If this matter got out, he would be impeached by the censor.

Wang Shao had a dusty face and was dressed like a soldier. After seeing Zhang Yue, he threw Fan Yangli away and sat on the side of the couch with a carefree smile. Meet my benefactor?"

Zhang Yue said: "So, are you here to pay back the money?"

Wang Shaodao: "This has never happened before. Now my entourage is in the official post, and I came to see Zhang Zhengyan in private to ask for advice on how to face the king."

Zhang Yue said: "You can just speak up about the matter with the king, why bother to ask me?"

Wang Shaodao: "Otherwise, in the past, when Shang Yang talked about the King of Qin, he first talked about the emperor's way, then the king's way and hegemony, and finally talked about reforms before he was appreciated by the King of Qin. I only have one chance as a king, and I dare not live up to Zhengyan's recommendation."

Zhang Yuedao: "It's nothing more than the kindness of the recommendation, the important thing is...do you also have the emperor's way, the king's way, and domineering tactics to persuade the officials?"

Wang Shao said: "Of course, if your majesty is the king of success, then I will advise your majesty and the Rong and other ten things, put down the flags and drums at the border, and stop fighting for an inch of land."

"If Your Majesty is willing to make plans slowly, then I will advise His Majesty how to reconcile the tribes, build troops and prepare military forces, and regain Hengshan in the future."

"If your Majesty is like Duke Xiao of Qin, and has a grand plan and strategy, then my rhetoric can make the court destroy Xixia and prevent future troubles forever. This will also make me flourish, and it will be no problem to be named king and minister in the future."

Exterminate Xixia, what a big tone.

Zhang Yue saw Wang Shao talking in high spirits, as if fame and fame were at his fingertips, so he couldn't help asking: "What is your plan? There is such a big success?"

Wang Shao heard the words: "Although Zhang Zhengyan is my benefactor, I will not tell you the details. As long as Zhang Zhengyan tells me His Majesty's determination."

Zhang Yue nodded and said: "Since Your Majesty summoned Xue Xiang to go to Beijing with you, there is no need to talk about his ambition."

Wang Shao's eyes brightened and said: "Your Majesty is..."

Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty admires Tang Taizong the most, what do you think?"

Wang Shao clapped his hands vigorously and said: "In this way, I, Wang Shao, will be rich and rich, and I will be famous all over the world."

Zhang Yue looked at Wang Shao and thought in the center of excitement, people like Wang Shao are too keen on fame and wealth, and they are too conceited and think too highly of themselves.

If such a person succeeds in the future, he usually thinks that everything is achieved through his own hard work, without the help of others.

If Wang Anshi is unreasonable, then Wang Shao is somewhat ruthless.Of course, many people who can achieve great things also have this temperament.

It seems that it is difficult for the other party to really take his recommendation to heart.But then again, everyone just takes what they need.

Wang Shao talked to himself for a while, then remembered that Zhang Yue was at the side, and then said: "Don't worry Zhang Zhengyan, Wang will definitely repay your recommendation in the future."

Zhang Yue smiled and said: "Zichun just remember it, if in the future you have a day when the scholar worships the general, and I have something to ask for, don't forget."

Wang Shao smiled and said, "Of course."

After the two had a long conversation, Wang Shao kept asking Zhang Yue for food and money, with all kinds of financial support.

Zhang Yue thought to himself that the [-] salt bills I gave you have not been taken back yet, and you still want me to put them in, and besides, he is no longer working in the third division, and the resources he can directly mobilize in his hands are much worse than before.

Wang Shao left Zhangfu that night and rode his horse for most of the night back to the station.

Wang Shao's son Wang Houli heard the sound of horseshoes at the back door of the inn, and immediately opened the door to welcome his father in.

But seeing his father, Wang Shao, in high spirits, he couldn't stop his joy.

Wang Hou took his father's whip, and then entered the post station to meet Wang Shao.

Wang Hou asked, "Did Father see Zhang Engong?"

Wang Shao nodded and said, "Yes, I heard what Zhang Zhengyan said. As expected by our father and son, the official family is a hero who will make great achievements."

Wang Houxi said: "That's great. From this point of view, after the officials called my father back to Beijing to inquire about border affairs, it will be of great use. This is also thanks to Zhang Engong's two recommendations."

Wang Hou gave his father a bowl of wine to quench his thirst.

Wang Shao heard the words and said indifferently: "Yes, Zhang Zhengyan was recommended, but our father and son held their heads up and killed them in Guwei with one knife and one gun. Without Huo Wei's ability, even as a father, I dare not say anything. Qingtang, he will restore our Han family's three thousand li territory every day!"

Having said that, Wang Shao heroically took the wine from his son and drank it down in one gulp.

Wang Shao said to Wang Hou: "That's right, have you prepared all the tribute we brought from the west this time?"

Wang Hou said: "It's all ready, and it can be sent to the capital tomorrow."

Wang Shao nodded and said: "Very good, you put your heart into it, and selected a few trusted eunuchs around the official's family to send them over one by one. You need to carefully check it out, whether we father and son can gain the trust of the official family in the future, and we will make contributions in this dynasty. "

Wang Houdao: "My child understands, all the connections have been arranged, but the people around the official family are not as good as Zhang Engong. Dad, why don't you leave it to him to take care of it."

Wang Shao said with a smile: "My son is really ignorant. Zhang Zhengyan has six thousand salt notes with us, and now we don't see a single penny. He invested in my father and me at the beginning because he was sure that we could make contributions. There is no benefit to be seen."

"He has to add money to us and sponsor us with officials. If the money is given to him now, not only will he feel uncomfortable in his heart, but he will not work so hard to help our father and son in the future."

Wang Hou felt sorry and said: "Father, it's not good for Mr. Zhang Engong to calculate us like this."

Wang Shaodao: "This is not a calculation, but those who want to achieve great things must have some means. In the Qing and Tang Dynasties, we need to know how powerful we are in dealing with the Tibetan tribes, and then use both kindness and power. Now in the court, the power is ten times stronger than those Fanbu."

"To be honest, I'd rather be in Guwei than go back to court and deal with bureaucrats."

A few days later, Fubi of Ruzhou was newly sentenced to enter the court.

In the fourth year of Zhiping, the official family had just ascended the throne and wanted to use Fu Bi, but Fu Bi refused with sufficient haste.

The officials called Fu Bi before because of Empress Dowager Cao, but now they called Fu Bi again because after Han Qi stepped down as Prime Minister, there was no big man in the court who could convince the public.

So the officials summoned Fu Bi, who had always been courageous and made a difference, back to the court.

However, Fu Bi still refused to be prime minister, and finally the officials had to let him go to Ruzhou.

Today, Fu Bi entered the court to resign face to face. The officials knew that he had a foot problem, so they specially allowed him to sit on the shoulders and enter the palace.Afterwards, the officials were worried about Fu Bi's inconvenience, so they issued an edict to welcome Fu Bi in person to the small hall at the East Gate.

Such courteous treatment really gave Fu Bi enough face.It is also enough to show the courtesy of the officials to respect the important ministers.

After arriving at the small hall of the East Gate, Fu Bi met the official family for the first time with the support of his son Fu Shaoting.Fu Bi carefully looked at the officials, he was very young, and he showed enough respect and respect to a veteran like himself.It's just that he is a little thin and weak. I don't know if he can inherit the great Song Dynasty for his ancestors.

The official said to Fu Bi: "You don't need to pay homage to Fu Qing if you are ill. Come and watch."

After talking about the official's family ordering the palace people to move the seat, Fu Shaoting helped his father to sit down.

After the monarchs and ministers sat down, the officials couldn't wait to ask: "Fu Qing is an important minister of the three dynasties. When he was an envoy to Khitan, he did not care about himself for the country. Now that I have just ascended the throne, I don't know the state affairs. Please ask Fu Qing to teach me how to govern. Govern a country well."

Fu Bi frowned slightly when he heard that, as Sima Guang said, the officials were too eager to do something.

In ancient times, those emperors who were so overjoyed, such as Emperor Qin and Emperor Yang, were often defeated here.

Fu Bi said: "Your Majesty, when you see your ministers, you are governing the way, and you don't ask about benevolence. Only with benevolence can you govern the way. I advise your majesty to first spread benevolence and collect favors and trusts."

The official said respectfully: "What Fu Qing said is very true, I have been taught."

Fu Bi was a little happy when he heard this, and said: "Your Majesty's desire to seek governance, of course I know it, but it is not a good thing for people to know the likes and dislikes of the owner. In this way, there will inevitably be treacherous men who fall in love with him."

Sima Guang also said this before, and the official said: "But the annual tribute that the imperial court gives to Khitan and Xixia is really a heavy burden for the country. Even if the imperial court responds to Xixia and Khitan's requests, they still think it is not enough and refuse to accept it. Hands. Now that the imperial treasury is empty, what will happen once the side affairs come together?"

Fu Bi said: "Your Majesty don't need to worry too much about border affairs. According to what I said, at the beginning of your Majesty's reign, Guangbu Deze should be the most important thing. I hope that Your Majesty will not talk about military affairs for 20 years, and it is not appropriate to reward the border. Gong, otherwise fighting together will cause great misfortune and good fortune."

The officials were silent when they heard the words, and what Fu Bi said was the same set of rhetoric.

Sima Guang and the others have a more extreme view, which is to 'punish those who invite credit for trouble', and all generals who create friction with Xixia on the border will be severely punished.

The same is true of what Fu Bi said.

The official was silent for a long time, and finally sighed: "I understand Fu Qing's meaning. With the court's current frontier preparations, let alone the Khitan, it is difficult to win a war with the Xia people."

Fu Bi said: "Your Majesty is wise."

The official forced a smile and said: "I want to worship Fu Bi as the envoy of Jubilee and stay in the capital to assist the prime minister in the government. Please Fu Qing not to shirk."

Knowing that the officials did not use his own ideas, Fu Bi resigned in person, and then left the palace and went directly to Ruzhou to take up his post.

After hearing Fu Bi's words, Sima Guang and other courtiers went up to order the official family 'Fu'an Yunei' to be the top, and the privy envoy Wen Yanbo also suggested the same.

The officials listened to Lu Gong's lectures and asked him to follow the example of Emperor Wen of Han.

The officials also found it very reasonable after hearing this, and said to the ministers: "Emperor Han Wen's clothes are not useless, and his feet are leather. Results. From this point of view, I have decided to be diligent and thrifty, and together with all my lovers, save the treasury expenses, so as to raise troops and prepare for the frontier."

Wang Anshi is still on the road at the moment. Although the officials are impatient, they have no connections. They feel that everyone's suggestions are reasonable, so it is better to follow the example of Emperor Hanwen.

This is also Fu Bi's and Sima Guang's suggestion, don't tell the world so clearly about your desire to seek medical treatment.

However, the officials said that they wanted to learn from Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty, which immediately made Lu Huiqing and Wang Shao who was waiting to be interviewed in the capital panic.

Officials learn from Emperor Wen of Han, so don't mention everything they plan.

They can all go home to study and farm.

However, human nature is difficult to change. It may change due to temporary reasons, but it will return to the original in the end.

At this time, Wang Shao was received by the officials.

Before Wang Shao entered the palace, he was full of apprehension. Fu Bi had just persuaded the officials not to talk about military matters for 20 years. Is the mainstream in the DPRK singing against it?
But when Wang Shao entered the palace for an audience, he saw Zhang Yue accompanying him.

Seeing this, Wang Shao couldn't help but feel relieved. When the officials received him, they asked Zhang Yue to accompany him, which showed that he still had plans to make contributions in the Northwest.

After Wang Shao saluted, the first thing the official asked was: "Qing is also from De'an?"

Wang Shao's spirit was shaken, and the other De'an person asked by the officials was...

Ps: The historical materials in this book are mainly Song history.As we all know, Song Shi has the most crooked ass in the 24 history, and he is full of slander for the reformists, but he has no choice but to make do with it.

(End of this chapter)