Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 440 0435 [It is difficult to do things]

After Ju Ming toured the counties and prefectures in Nanyang, he received a letter from Ge Shengzhong on his way back to the south.

After reading the letter, Ju Ming asked: "How do you think he will reply?"

Shi Yuangong flattered him and said, "Since the Generalissimo wrote the letter personally and treated him with courtesy, Governor Ge should naturally burst into tears of gratitude and bow before him!"

"Hahahaha!"

Zhu Ming couldn't stop laughing, and couldn't help saying: "Old Shi, you are not honest at all. You haven't improved much in your skills, but you have become more proficient in flattering horses. Are you going to be that flattering minister in the future?"

"It's just telling the truth, not flattering your Majesty." Shi Yuangong refused to admit it.

Ju Ming put away his smile: "I wrote to him to ask him how to govern the people, and he really replied to teach me how to govern the people. It's a pity that most of the words are old-fashioned, and there is really nothing new, far less attractive than his words."

For example, to make the country rich and the people strong, Ge Shengzhong’s thinking is that everyone should settle for his own share, the powerful should not take the benefits of the people, the government should not take the benefits of the powerful, and the central government should not take the benefits of the localities.

He said that in the Song Dynasty now, the interests of the people were usurped by the powerful, the interests of the powerful were usurped by the government, and the interests of the localities were usurped by the central government.All the benefits of the world were concentrated in one person, Huizong of the Song Dynasty. Such oppression at all levels resulted in everyone from the central government to the local governments, from the powerful to the common people, being impoverished and unable to stabilize.

He believes that the Yuanfeng Constitution should be restored to ensure the legitimate interests of all classes and local governments.In this way, the world can be governed.

In terms of business, Ge Shengzhong believes that market management should be strengthened, but attention should be paid to protecting the interests of businessmen.Today's Song Dynasty seems to strictly control business, but in fact it doesn't care at all and only knows how to tax merchants.

Shi Yuangong took it and read it carefully, and said: "Everything is reasonable, why is the Generalissimo still not satisfied?"

Ju Ming said: "Perhaps this is the first written conversation. His words are too general. Any other person can make some sense. What I want is his concrete experience in governing the people after more than [-] years of service as an official." practice."

Shi Yuangong said with a smile: "He replied in such a way that he was comparing himself with Zaifu and formulating a general strategy for the country. However, the marshal's request was to treat him as a civil affairs official. When the marshal replied, he must not be too explicit Otherwise, he will feel that he has been underestimated."

"That's right, you can't ask for too much, and you can't ask for too low." Zhu Ming nodded.

Ge Shengzhong's greatest political achievement is the continuation of "Taichang Yinge Li". The previous author of this book was Ouyang Xiu.

This gentleman is knowledgeable, cares about people's livelihood, is familiar with history, and is familiar with policies and changes of the past century.Ask him to formulate a general strategy for the country, and Ge Shengzhong can talk about it for a whole day, but he is actually not very good at specific governance.

Because Ge Shengzhong's career starting point is too high, most of the time he was in a dignified official position, either in charge of the Imperial College and Taixue, or worked in the Ministry of Rites to compile books for the imperial court.

As for the specific administrative officer, he only worked as a manager for two years and joined the army, that is, as a magistrate.He was also demoted to be the county magistrate of Xiuning for a few years, and the rest is the current magistrate of Ruzhou.

When Ju Ming stayed in Dengzhou, he wrote a reply to Ge Shengzhong, which was sent to Ruzhou in the middle of winter.

……

"What did Mr. Zhu say?" Ge Lifang asked.

Ge Shengzhong smiled and said, "Look for yourself."

After reading Ge Lifang's letter, he said happily: "Mr. Zhu accepted his father's words, and he really accepted advice with humility. Father can continue to reply to the letter and write more of his own ideas on governing the country."

"I'm afraid there is no chance." Ge Shengzhong took out another letter.

This letter was sent from Tokyo by the great writer Chen Yuyi, saying that the eunuch Li Yan was angry and openly clamored to remove Ge Shengzhong from the editorial management.

Chen Yuyi's reputation is still not obvious now. To really become famous, he has to experience the shame of Jingkang.Fortunately for the country's unfortunate poet, under the baptism of endless pain, Chen Yuyi left a large number of masterpieces handed down from generation to generation, and can be called the first poet and poet in the early Southern Song Dynasty.

It was precisely because of Ge Shengzhong's recommendation that Chen Yuyi came to Beijing to serve as Taixuezheng, and now he has been promoted to Fu Baolang, in charge of various seals and letters in the outer dynasty.

Ge Lifang said: "Simply go south and vote for Mr. Zhu!"

"Let's wait and see." Ge Shengzhong still had a glimmer of hope for the emperor.

Soon, hope is dashed.

A few years ago, Ge Shengzhong was demoted to Ruzhou magistrate because of his opposition to Hua Shigang.

But now, because of his opposition to the Xicheng Institute, Ge Shengzhong was demoted to be the Deputy Envoy of Huzhou Tuanlian.

Even Chen Yuyi was implicated, and Fu Baolang, who was in charge of the imperial seal, was directly demoted to Chen Liu as a wine tax supervisor.

Looking at the relegation document sent by the capital, Ge Shengzhong shook his head and smiled wryly: "It's really difficult for the court to do something now. I didn't even do anything serious. I just opposed Tian Canmin in the west city. I can't go down."

"What are you still hesitating about, father?" Ge Li Fang asked anxiously.

Ge Shengzhong said: "First I wrote a letter of thanks to the court, resigned from the Huzhou regiment training position, and said that I would go back to my hometown to live in seclusion. We can't let that faint king know that my father and son have defected to Hanzhong, so as not to hurt the tribesmen in Danyang."

With light snow falling in the sky, Ge Shengzhong took his wife, children, concubines and servants, sealed his official seal and left Ruzhou City silently.I don't know how the news got out, this muddleheaded prefect who drank and wrote poems all day long, and didn't care about his shit, nearly a thousand people came to see him off voluntarily.

The common people's eyes are discerning. The Yingchang Mansion next door has already been harmed by the West City, and the people are in dire straits.

In Ruzhou, because of the obstruction of Ge Shengzhong, the land covered by Xicheng was very slow, and only part of the countryside was exploited.If Ge Shengzhong leaves, Ruzhou will definitely be miserable next year.

"Prefect, please stay here!"

A big landowner in the outskirts of the city, with a lot of money, actually knelt in the snow water himself.

Big landowners will definitely not be bankrupted by Xicheng, but once they are targeted by Xicheng, all taxes related to land will be doubled!
Common people knelt down one after another, and most of them were landlords, and many businessmen were also there, because they were the best informed, but the real common people did not know that Ge Shengzhong was leaving.

Ge Shengzhong personally helped up a few people, and sighed: "I am really ashamed. I have been in Ruzhou for several years, and I have a vegetarian meal every day and ignore the common affairs. You are still so kind to stay. The imperial court has made other appointments. It is difficult to do this." Turn around, I just hope that the next Zhizhou can... that's all, let's go away."

Before the Ru River froze, Ge Shengzhong boarded the boat and sailed away, leaving behind a place full of crying people.

The big landlords were just feeling sad, but the little landlords really cried bitterly. They were very likely to be forced to ruin their families.

When the boat sailed to Xiangcheng County, Ge Shengzhong asked his servants to go back to his hometown by boat, at least to report a letter to the clansmen in his hometown.He himself took his wife and children, abandoned the boat and went overland to Xiangyang, where he followed Zhu's father and son.

Officials who care about the people in their hearts, if they dare to confront those gangsters, they will be demoted continuously.

Chen Yuyi, who was implicated by Ge Shengzhong, also sadly left Tokyo and went to Chenliu to collect the liquor tax.

Historically, Chen Yuyi served as deputy prime minister under Zhao Gou.Because Zhao Gou did not want the Northern Expedition, Chen Yuyi was so angry that he resigned from the position of deputy prime minister, and refused to be an official again until his death.

The new magistrate of Ruzhou was called Xie Kuang, who later died because of his resistance to the Jin Dynasty, and he took the initiative to lead troops northward and died while fighting the Jin soldiers.

No matter how upright he is, he can't stop the eunuch Kuo Tian, ​​otherwise he will end up with Ge Shengzhong.

Ruzhou is estimated to be full of refugees again next year.

……

Ju Ming has returned to Xiangyang, and he still doesn't know that the governor of Ruzhou has been replaced.

Returning to the Generalissimo's Mansion, he slept in Zhang Jinping's room that night. The next day he went to see Master Li and also called Pei Chang'e.

Li Shishi was overjoyed and hurriedly prepared the food and drink, among several wives and concubines, she was considered the least favored.

Pei Chang'e is also very happy, because she is too young and will only turn 16 next year, and Ju Ming has never touched her.Every time I feel dejected, thinking that I lack charm, and I can only stay alone in an empty room in this life.

Zhu Ming came with Chinese cabbage in his arms. He said as soon as he entered the yard, "Let the cook make it another day to taste. It is different from ordinary Chinese cabbage and Chinese cabbage. It is the result of my father's cultivation for several years. It can already be taken care of." , although it is not packed tightly, but the output has increased a lot, and people are specially sent to send it from Hanzhong."

Li Shishi took the two Chinese cabbages and hugged them in his arms like that, suddenly he couldn't laugh or cry.

A famous courtesan in the capital, barely considered a talented woman, after becoming a concubine, the first gift she received from her husband was Chinese cabbage.

Li Shishi was embarrassed for a few seconds and said: "Since the vegetables cultivated by the boss must be extraordinary, I think they taste very good."

"You'll know it after eating it. It has a sweet taste," said Zhu Ming. "This product can benefit all people. Not only does it have a high yield, but it can be stored for a long time in the cellar in winter."

"Sister, let me carry you in." Pei Chang'e also had good eyesight. She didn't know how to please Zhu Ming, so she could only try to please Li Shishi, otherwise she wouldn't even have anyone to talk to.

When the three of them arrived in the house, the charcoal fire had been burning for a long time.

Master Li retreated from the maid to add charcoal and cook the wine herself, while Pei Chang'e sat down obediently.

Of course, Zhu Ming came here to do business: "I don't watch many dramas, is Shi Shi good at this?"

Li Shishi replied: "I used to sing more elegant tunes, but not even slang tunes. I have never performed miscellaneous operas in person. If you want to listen to miscellaneous operas, you can raise a troupe at home."

"I want the soldiers to watch a play," Zhu Ming explained. "During this northern tour, I saw that there was no entertainment in the army. I didn't want to provide soldiers with prostitutes, so I planned to let them have a variety show. Not only can Passing time can also cultivate the morale of the army, and use miscellaneous dramas to subtly influence the soldiers to know what loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness are, and why they should be kind to the people."

"This is an important matter for the military and the country." Li Shishi immediately put away his other thoughts, "Although I have never sang miscellaneous operas, I have seen a lot of them. Mr. Xianggong can invite a few theater troupes to come, and I will personally assess them and choose the two best ones. Sergeant entertainment."

Ju Ming said: "I just want to ask, who is the gentleman who writes dramas that are most sought after by the low-level people. Don't be too elegant, the more the low-level people like it, the better. Even if I am far away in Tokyo, I can still write this drama. Please come."

Li Shishi said with a smile: "My lord knows this person, he is Li Bangyan, the Right Prime Minister of the Song Dynasty, and the whole Tokyo belongs to his zaju, which is most loved by the common people."

"Uh..." Zhu Ming was speechless for a moment.

(End of this chapter)