I studied in modern times

Chapter 273 Chonglucang Method
After sending Shi Deyi away, Zhao Xu spent a lot of time calming down.

Then he knew why he was so angry?

It's not Liu Zhi, nor is it because the old party wants to start a party struggle.

These might make him uncomfortable or even angry, but they are unlikely to make him lose his temper like this.

He had learned to control his emotions after taking charge in his previous life.

Ten years of studying abroad in modern times have further sharpened his emotions.

Let him learn to keep his emotions and anger hidden, and also let him learn how to disguise himself.

Therefore, he can even be brothers with those people who disgust every nerve in his body.

Therefore, what really made him lose his temper was hidden in the details, in the nightmare of his previous life.

Retreat from the three traitors and enter the three virtuous states!

Liu Zhi's slogans buzzed in his ears.

He took another deep breath to calm down.

In his previous life, it was this slogan that completely kicked off the Yuanyou party struggle.

It was under Liu Zhi's call and leadership that tragedies of political persecution began to occur.

Cai Que was demoted to death, Deng Wan was demoted to death, and Zhang Dun and Lu Huiqing were almost tortured to death.

Zhao Xu in Bianjing City was closely monitored by the old party literati and officials.

All the people left to him by his father were expelled.

Those days and nights, those days when I lived with the nightmare that something might be deposed like a new law.

Zhao Xu thought he had completely defeated.

But the facts told him that he didn't.

He was still afraid and still uneasy about it.

Even though his current situation is completely different from his previous life.

But he still couldn't escape that nightmare.

The nightmare of being watched, the nightmare of being deposed.

This was the source of his gaffe.

A type of PTSD that attacks when exposed to external stimuli.

So, Zhao Xu slowly closed his eyes and began to self-regulate his psychology.

"I have taken control of the power..."

"I will banish Liu Zhi sooner or later!"

"I won't let myself be in that kind of environment again!"

Muttering to himself like this, when Zhao Xu opened his eyes again, he had returned to his original state.

He is still the gentle, courteous, kind and wise emperor.

Not the violent, murderous, arbitrary, and ruthless king just now!

"Feng Jing..." Zhao Xu called.

"What are your orders?"

"Are you almost late for today's sutra feast?" Zhao Xu stood up: "Let's go quickly!"

"Wei!" Feng Jing respectfully accepted the order.

"After I go to the Sutra Banquet, you go and talk to Shi De..." Zhao Xu ordered: "Let the Detective Department find out the matter for me!"

"Don't have any stance, just do what it should be! Understand?"

"understand!"

……

When Zhao Xu arrived at Jiying Hall, he still arrived on time.

But he still thanked the banquet officials who had already arrived humbly.

Then he announced that because he was snoozing today, he would punish himself by copying the college chapter of the "Book of Rites" once as a way of self-examination.

The banquet officials headed by Fan Chunren and Lu Dafang were naturally fooled by his acting skills, and they all expressed their admiration: "It is a great blessing for us in the Song Dynasty to have such a holy master!"

The prayer feast on this day was as ordinary as usual.

Zhao Xu still plays his role of being humble, studious and smart.

He also spread his character quietly through the banquet officials.

Bianjing Xinbao can only influence the common people in Bianjing city, and it is the lower-level officials who are overwhelmed.

However, Jingyan officials can influence the scholar-bureaucrats in all the states and counties in the world.

Their poems and essays, as well as their moral character, were enough to convince the scholar-bureaucrats to believe their words.

After the Sutra Banquet, Zhao Xu, as usual, greeted the officials of the Sutra Banquet and paid their respects one by one.

Then he was the last one to leave Jiying Hall.

Doing this is of course very tiring.

But this is the path he chose, and he enjoys it.

He was young and his body bones had not grown.

This is the only way to support Wang.

Scholars and officials raise their hopes for the future.

The emperor raised his hopes so that he could do what he wanted to do in the future with minimal pressure and criticism from the ruling and opposition parties.

……

After coming out of Jiying Palace, Zhao Xu went to Baoci Palace to pay his respects as usual.

By the way, I also reported on the lesson of today’s feast.

"Brother Six, come here with the Empress..." Xiang Empress Dowager smiled, and after listening to Zhao Xu's story about today's feast, she waved to him: "There happened to be a case, and both the Empress and the Grandmother were a little hesitant..."

"Brother Six is ​​also here to give me some advice!"

Queen Mother Xiang has been like this recently.She always tried her best to get Zhao Xu more involved in state affairs.

The Empress Dowager was also convinced by her - "Mother, Sixth Brother is the emperor and will always grow up! With Sixth Brother involved in state affairs, even if there are any treacherous ministers and villains who want to alienate the Tian family, they will have no chance. take advantage of!"

This hit home to the worries hidden in the heart of the Queen Mother.

She was worried about King Yang's affairs, and also worried about Zhang Maoze's case, which might have some loose ends left untied.

And these things are like a thorn in the side, always making the Queen Mother uneasy.

At this time, the Queen Mother's persuasion and suggestions suddenly made her realize - I have treated the officials like this, what will the officials know when they grow up?As long as I think of my current situation, I will definitely pretend not to have it!

She was also convinced that Zhao Xu would do this.

Because this child is smart, and also because this child is really filial!

Therefore, the Empress Dowager happily agreed.

Zhao Xu sat next to Empress Dowager Xiang, pretending not to know anything, blinking his eyes and asked: "Mother, what's the case of Empress Dowager?"

The Queen Mother smiled and said: "It's just a small case..."

"A monk sued the official Shouqiu of the Senglu Department of Kaifeng Prefecture..."

"Shouqiu?" Zhao Xu asked in question, and then said: "Mother, Sun Chen is in the Jiying Palace. I remember Fan Xueshi once said that the subordinate officials of the country used to make a living by receiving qiu. However, my father recommended En, use the "Chonglucang Law" to keep the subordinate officials honest. From then on, the subordinate officials will be greatly weakened by Qiu's influence..."

"Especially for the officials in Kaifeng Mansion, their salaries are quite generous nowadays!"

It is very common for a Kaifeng Prefecture official to receive seven, eight, or even ten guan or more in monthly salary plus salary.

And this income exceeds the income of most ordinary people in Bianjing City.

It is enough to support a family even in Bianjing City.

Of course, along with heavy pay, there are also heavy punishments.

After the Xining Reform and the implementation of the Chonglucang Law, Wang Anshi immediately formulated a set of strict laws against subordinate officials.

While giving money, he was served with severe punishment.

It is hoped that the lawlessness of subordinate officials will be curbed from both the economic and institutional aspects.

This will clear the way for the reform and at the same time prevent the subordinate officials in the world from obstructing the new law.

For a period of time after the Chonglucang method was implemented, it did have very good results.

The behavior of low-level officials and subordinate staff changed drastically.

But unfortunately, with Wang Anshi's resignation as prime minister, he entered the Yuanfeng era.

Although the court continued to give subordinate and low-level officials extra money in exchange for not committing corruption.

However, bureaucratic corruption and exploitation have resurfaced.

In Zhao Xu's previous life, Chonglu Cangfa was deposed by Sima Guang during the Yuanyou era, and then restored after he took charge.

In modern times, Zhao Xu also specialized in this aspect.

So, he's very familiar with it.

It can even be said that in the past six months, Zhao Xu would reflect on the Chonglucang method whenever he had free time.

Already have some ideas.

So, while he was talking, he asked the two palaces: "Why are there still officials who are being punished?"

"Is it because Kaifeng Prefecture does not have enough moral education?"

How can Two Palaces answer such a question?
They were all speechless for a moment. They thought about it to the Queen Mother and said: "There is no conclusion on this matter yet..."

"But..." asked the Queen Mother, "If it is indeed found that the subordinate officials are corrupt, what will Sixth Brother think?"

"As the law should be, so should you be!"

The Law of Emphasis on Lucang was established by Wang Anshi based on the idea in "Tang Law" and "Xingtong of the Song Dynasty" that "those who do not have a salary are guilty of a misdemeanor, and those who have a salary are guilty of a serious crime".

The core element is - unity of authority and responsibility!

High salary to support integrity, bribery and corruption must be punished with severe punishment.

Anyone who embezzles less than [-] yuan may be sentenced to one year in prison. For each more than [-] yuan, the crime will be increased by one level. For more than [-] yuan, the crime will be increased by one level.The informer will be rewarded with one hundred thousand, two hundred thousand, three hundred thousand, etc...

Both palaces showed a look of relief in their eyes.

Zhao Xu continued: "But the official is guilty, so of course he can't escape!"

"My son was in the Jiying Hall, listening to the gentlemen talking about the scriptures and meanings of the saints, and the grammar of Mr. Li Gou... I also listened to many stories about the governance of famous and virtuous officials in ancient times!"

"I think that the fact that subordinate officials are highly paid but still break the law and receive salary is certainly caused by their greed. I am afraid it is also related to the fact that the relevant officials do not pay attention to moral education and fail to teach subordinate officials to be honest!"

The two palaces listened and became more and more pleased.

This is in line with their cognition and three views.

What is the most important thing for an official?
Moral education!

Especially the moral education for the officials below.

A good official leads by example, such as Bao Xiaosu...

Wherever there are subordinate officials who do evil, how can there be corruption?

Everyone is in awe, but it is too late for everyone to worship.

So, the Queen Mother asked: "What about the official opinion?"

Zhao Xu smiled and said: "In Sun Chen's opinion..."

"Sin without teaching is what a saint would not do!"

"Sun Chen feels that if the investigation is clear, he will reprimand the relevant officials individually and order them to go back to strictly investigate their subordinates... If they commit the crime again, they will be punished for the crime of laxity under their control, and they can be punished with copper or even fines. ...If the corrupt people continue to be severely criticized..."

This is the political correctness of the Song Dynasty.

Even if the civil servants and officials were really corrupt, they would only be demoted, replaced, and stopped.

After the limelight has passed, you can still go back to Bianjing to guard the palace.

If he has a backer, he might be able to resume his post soon.

Of course, this person has been stained since then, and it is difficult to be promoted. He can only work hard to get promoted, and it is almost impossible to become a minister-unless he has a great background, or simply has the emperor as his backer. -Because, when a Beijing official is changed to a court official, or when a court official is changed to a waiting system, the emperor must personally see it and pay homage to him in the palace.

Especially for ministers waiting to be appointed, their status, resume, and role must be reviewed personally by the emperor, and they will be dispatched by the emperor himself.

(End of this chapter)