Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 429: Anyone who can catch mice is a good cat

In the autumn of the eleventh year of Tianbao, on the day of Ji Ge's birthday, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, who was already in his sixtieth year, issued a new imperial edict: an all-round reorganization of the Forbidden Army!

The establishment and framework of the Nanya Forbidden Army will be further reduced, making it completely ineffective and turning it into an army that only retains symbolic significance, and its functions have been shifted to the nature of a "recruitment office", and it can no longer participate in military operations.

Then all the flashy designations of the Bei Ya Forbidden Army were cut off and reorganized into a whole, divided into two parts.

One of the departments, called the "Dianqian Division", was under the jurisdiction of the Yinqian Xiaojie Army, and the military commander was Fang Chongyong.

As well as the newly formed Black Cloud Long Sword Army, military commander Cui Qianyou.

The two armies were parallel, with 10,000 men each.

Each army has five "capitals" under its jurisdiction, and each "capital" has 2,000 people.

Among them, the Black Cloud Long Sword Army was adapted from the original Shence Army by absorbing elites. The expansion of the Silver Spear Xiaojie Army continued to recruit elites from the border army.

These two armies, the Silver Spear Xiaojie Army garrisoned the Xuanwu Gate of Chang'an, and the Black Cloud Sword Army garrisoned the Daming Palace, were responsible for guarding the capital in regular rotation.

The frontier army is short of men and needs to find ways to recruit troops and provide military supplies and pay. As for how to find a solution, that's up to Jiedushi himself.

The expansion of the imperial army is an additional expense and will greatly increase the financial pressure on the court. The imperial court took back the soldiers from the border towns. Logically speaking, it should also take back the tax management rights of some states and counties.

In a private room in the Xinghua Building adjacent to Zhuque Street, the largest restaurant in Chang'an, Zheng Shuqing couldn't help but complain to Fang Chongyong, who was eating food.

The central government was already short of money, and now it is even more short of money!
But having said that, isn't the direct reason for the separatist rule of the vassal towns the fact that the military in Guanzhong is weak and unable to intimidate the local area?

The current situation in the Tang Dynasty is not something that Brother Ji can achieve immediately by whatever he wants.

The court's money and food are only guaranteed to be distributed to the person who is transferred.

But do you think the saint can wait ten years? "

I told you before that Liu Yan was a prodigy in making money. Didn't the imperial court recall him to Guanzhong? Just ask Liu Yan. Then he would give advice to the sage and let him be the Minister of Household Affairs in charge of money. Wouldn't that be the end of the matter? "

"No money, the court is really too poor! Fang Yushi, you have to help me think of a way. I have to be in front of the right minister. I want to resign, but the saint won't allow it."

"The court is short of money, so the right minister should ask the Minister of Household Affairs.

Jiedushi has fewer soldiers under his command, and they will make up the difference themselves. No one will take the initiative to downsize! If we do not downsize, we will naturally not hand over part of our financial power.

However, many times, the ship turns around in disaster.

To put it simply, after a Qiu Ba from the border army is transferred to the Forbidden Army, they no longer belong to the original units in each border town. As for the lack of someone in the border army, the court didn't care.

Liu Yan did have a way to increase the taxes collected by the Ministry of Household Affairs.

There seems to be no problem.

There are even some border towns, such as Hebei, where the branch envoy and the Jiedushi are the same person.

If the military reform is completed in ten years, there will be a way to gradually fill in the holes.

Fang Chongyong put down his chopsticks, squinted his eyes and said, not accepting this issue at all. It’s easy to tell how short of money the imperial court is now.

The resulting shortfalls will be settled by each governor of the border town on their own. Either the border army establishment should be reduced, or the army should be recruited and supported by itself. In short, the court will no longer be responsible for the money, food and equipment of the missing personnel.

If the Guanzhong Forbidden Army suddenly expands to include so many people, where can they find money and food?
When the Jiedushi system was established, the imperial court had already transferred the financial power of border states and counties to the local branch envoys. But now Zhidushi works in the same yamen as Jiedushi and breathes out from the same nostril.

……

The military reform will take one year, and the skeleton of the army must be seen within half a year; within one year, all reorganization must be completed.

The personnel, money, food, and equipment required for the reorganization of the Forbidden Army will be coordinated by the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Household Affairs, and the Ministry of Works among the six yamen, and must be responsive to requests.

The sudden attack of the Silver Spear Xiaojie Army and the futility of the Shence Army made Ji Ge learn from the pain and determined to strengthen Guanzhong's military preparedness.

However, according to "historical experience", once the central government's financial power is given away, it is difficult to take it back. The border towns can use various reasons to shirk.

For the Long March athletes who joined the Forbidden Army from the border army, the Ministry of War also transferred their military status to the Forbidden Army.

A few days ago, Fang Chongyong gave Zheng Shuqing a prescription for "military reform," and Brother Ji was quite satisfied with it. Now the new right prime minister is crying about poverty again. Fang Chongyong will not get used to this bad habit of wanting and wanting at the same time.

These four armies are: Longjie Army, Iron Cavalry Army, Hujie Army, and Konghe Army (not the one under Fang Youde, and his establishment was not officially awarded by the court). Each army is divided into the "Left Wing" and the "Left Wing". The "right wing" has five "capital" jurisdictions, each with 2,000 people.

"That's not what you said. I have already told Liu Yan about this.

At present, the best of the Tang army is in the border army, leaving Guanzhong empty. The purpose of the military reform is obviously to enrich the military strength in Guanzhong and reduce the border troops, so as to change the current situation of thick branches and leaves and weak trunks.

Therefore, the taxes that should be recovered theoretically cannot be recovered in the end. The tax pressure from the new imperial army was completely transferred to the center.

The number of states and counties from which the imperial court could receive taxes was actually much less than what was recorded in the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue! A lot of money was spent on raising soldiers in border towns.

This is an answer sheet that Zheng Shuqing handed over after he became the Right Prime Minister and in accordance with Brother Ji's instructions to "enrich Guanzhong". Zheng Shuqing himself didn't want to bother, but Brother Ji didn't care what he thought.

"I know everything you said, but I can't make money, so it's useless for you to tell me this."

The Forbidden Army has a flat structure and is uniformly dispatched by Gao Lishi. And Gao Lishi is the extension of Ji Ge's hands, feet, ears, and eyes, so it can also be said that Ji Ge is serving as the new commander-in-chief of the Forbidden Army.

Due to the huge shortage of soldiers, Ji Ge issued an order to recruit brave people from all the border armies into the Forbidden Army.

So, what's the problem with expanding the Forbidden Army?

If there are 100,000 forbidden troops in Guanzhong, there will definitely not be thousands of silver-gunned filial piety troops to make waves in Chang'an.

After the imperial edict was issued, the government and the public were shocked, and undercurrents surged. Such a huge military reform symbolized a major change in military strategy.

Zheng Shuqing sighed helplessly.

Another part of the Bei Ya Forbidden Army is called the "Guard Division", which has 80,000 people under its jurisdiction. It is divided into four "armies", and each army has 20,000 people under its jurisdiction.

Fang Chongyong sighed helplessly and spread his hands to show that he was powerless.

Seeing that Lao Zheng had no intention of giving up, he complained angrily: "If it doesn't work, I'll just sell my official position and get a title."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Shuqing quickly shook his head and said angrily: "The imperial court has been selling officials and titles since the Wude period, when Emperor Gaozu was still there. Now these official positions are worse than wheat rotting in the field. If you can make money by selling officials and titles, I will give it to you." Do I need to ask you?"

Is it no longer enough to sell an official position or win a title?
Fang Chongyong was shocked.

Zheng Shuqing explained: "In fact, the imperial court has always treated the rich but not noble people as fools and tricked them into donating money to buy an official position. But after buying this official position, it is of little use. You can't eat, drink or receive money. One person No matter how stupid you are, after being deceived for more than a hundred years, it’s time for you to gain some wisdom.”

Selling officials in the Tang Dynasty is a type of "small profits but quick turnover". A few dozen coins can buy a distinguished official. Even if you really want to be an official, if you pay more, you can theoretically become an official.

Otherwise, there were more than 1,600 counties in the Tang Dynasty. Where could we find so many county magistrates and county lieutenants? How many people can there be after one year's imperial examination and family education?
The average number of imperial examination candidates is only twenty-seven per year, and all those who qualify for the imperial examination in one year are only over one hundred.

Therefore, many people buy their way into becoming officials, which is one of the main reasons why officials vary from place to place.

It's just that the bought officials are discriminated against on the one hand, and they can't let go if they want to make money. In addition, the imperial court also has assessments, and if you don’t have some skills, you won’t be able to survive;
On the other hand, all they can earn are miserable jobs, and many people have to leave their homes and go to remote areas.

Those who can afford an official position are either rich or noble. Who wants to suffer that!

Over time, the sale of officials in the imperial court also became a buyer's market.

The imperial court refused to sell important official positions, and even the better prefectures and counties, county magistrates and county lieutenants were reserved for the officials appointed by the imperial examination.

Unimportant official positions cannot be sold at all, and the market is seriously saturated. Those fools and fools have all been cheated out of their experience points, and no one is willing to throw their money into the water in vain.

Official positions are unsaleable, please help us!

After listening to Zheng Shuqing's introduction, this ridiculous idea flashed through Fang Chongyong's mind. "Yan Shangshu, can you also say something? I am here today to discuss important matters, but it is all for the sake of the imperial court."

Zheng Shuqing looked at Yan Zhenqing, who was silent and just eating food, and asked with a slightly dissatisfied tone.

During the Bailu Incident, Zheng Shuqing was not the only one who picked up the leaks. Even Yan Zhenqing reaped a wave of dividends. Because of Fang Guan's downfall, Yan Zhenqing was lifted up by people in the civil service circle and pushed to the front desk, and became the Minister of the Ministry of Industry.

This is the result of political wrangling.

The military was weak and strong, and the finances were unable to make ends meet. Faced with such a predicament, many forces in the court had to temporarily join forces to deal with it. This is also the main reason why Yan Zhenqing appears here now.

Solving problems that are usually difficult to solve at the dinner table is a Chinese tradition "since ancient times".

"Import a salt tax on Hebei, set up more checkpoints in the Huaihe River and Jiangnan, and collect customs and merchant taxes. In short, the imperial army must be expanded. We cannot tie our hands just because the Ministry of Revenue cannot collect taxes."

Yan Zhenqing put down his chopsticks and said in a deep voice.

In his opinion, finance and everything else were secondary. He could only strengthen the Forbidden Army first and change the current situation of strong branches and weak cadres, and then talk about other things.

As for whether collecting more taxes will harm the people, then we can only suffer the people first.

The Silver Spear Xiaojie Army went to the Western Regions, and after returning, they were completely transformed, fighting one against ten.

Yan Zhenqing couldn't imagine how ferocious those Qiuba people in Bian Town who sharpened their swords day and night would be.

Even without the support of cronies, he himself firmly supports the expansion of the Forbidden Army.

Yan Zhenqing believes that although Ji Ge is old and often does some unreliable things, this time Ji Ge's imperial edict was not wrong.

The Guanzhong Forbidden Army is weak and it is time to strengthen it. This is also the consensus between the government and the emperor after the Bailu Incident.

Otherwise, it would have been impossible to advance so quickly. Just the bickering between the government and the opposition would make Zheng Shuqing very anxious.

"If you impose a salt tax on Hebei, you will naturally have to impose a salt tax on Guanzhong, and if you impose a salt tax on Lianghuai and Jiangnan, you cannot escape this."

Fang Chongyong shook his head and continued: "People's livelihood is difficult, and raising taxes will only be counterproductive."

"What Yan Shangshu said is absolutely true. The salt tax must indeed be increased."

Zheng Shuqing nodded slightly, obviously thinking that collecting salt tax was a good way to make money.

"But this is not enough to solve the urgent need."

He sighed again, looking sad.

Collecting salt tax is not a simple matter. To effectively collect money, it is necessary to establish a series of tax collection yamen, specialized tax collectors, and central corresponding agencies.

This series of new parts for the state machine must be continuously adapted and those that are not suitable must be eliminated. If you put the whole package together, it won't be possible to see results within three to five years.

"If it doesn't work, just sell your imperial examination quota."

Fang Chongyong interrupted abruptly.

ha?
Zheng Shuqing and Yan Zhenqing were both stunned. Can these imperial examination quotas be sold?
"No, no, we can consider raising more taxes. But this is absolutely not a possibility."

Yan Zhenqing shook his head quickly.

"The imperial court can send envoys to the Huaihe River and Jiangnan to sell places in the Ming Jing Department. Well, it is called being born with the Ming Jing School, and you can be selected by the court in the future.

As for whether to choose or not to choose, and who to choose or not to choose, that is still in the hands of the officials.

If you don’t want to be elected, then go ahead and cool off. There are many people who want to participate.

If this doesn't work, there is another, simpler way.

All Buddhist temples in Guanzhong ordered half of their monks to return to secular life. Anyone who wants to be a monk in the future must buy a certificate from the court, which is a document for becoming a monk. As long as there is no confession document, they are all fake monks and nuns.

If one person charges two thousand yuan, there will be at least hundreds of thousands of monks in Guanzhong. Calculated based on the number of people receiving money, these hundreds of thousands are easily earned.

After collecting Guanzhong, as well as Hebei, Lianghuai, and Jiangnan, I can collect a million strings anyway. "

Fang Chongyong said nonchalantly and took a sip of wine.

There is a way!
Yan Zhenqing nodded and said: "It is not advisable to sell Tongming Jing's family background, but for those monks who are not engaged in childbirth, the court can accept the money with confidence, so you might as well give it a try."

Seeing how pedantic he was, Fang Chongyong couldn't help but ask:

"Nowadays, everyone knows what's going on when the examination papers are held. Whoever has the backing, whose backing is willing to contribute, and whoever pays more money can pass the exam.

Since all this money was taken by those unspeakable people, why can't it be taken by the imperial court?

The imperial court took money to recruit soldiers. What did those people do with the money? "

Fang Chongyong sharply pointed out the shortcomings of the imperial examination, leaving Yan Zhenqing speechless and even feeling ashamed.

After all, he himself was also the "unspeakable" person in Fang Chongyong's words, and he was also playing the game of "manipulating the imperial examination".

However, Yan Zhenqing used to think that he did not accept the benefits of the imperial examination candidates and was just "recommending talents". He did not do anything wrong at all!
If Yan Zhenqing doesn’t recommend candidates, there will be other people who will recommend candidates. What would those people recommend?

Therefore, he has always regarded himself as a "clean stream".

The civil service group weaves a network of relationships in this way and helps each other. This is how everyone plays.

It is somewhat similar to "the master introduces the door, and the practice is in each person's hands."

The imperial examinations are all based on connections. There is nothing to say about this.

How to be awarded an official position after passing the examination and how to perform in office are the life paths of each successful candidate.

Fang Chongyong's meaning is simple: since the imperial examination has been used by many people for personal gain, it is better to simply hand it over to the state for sale at a clearly marked price, at least in exchange for some military expenses.

Since they are all rotten and cannot be repaired, would it be better to simply recycle them?
"This matter is so big that I don't dare to say whether we should do it or not. Why don't we start collecting money from the monks first to meet our urgent needs."

Yan Zhenqing sighed softly and said. Fang Chongyong was trying to dig out the roots of these people who came from the imperial examination. Yan Zhenqing could not compromise on this issue until his life was at stake.

He cannot betray his group, otherwise he will destroy himself, and he does not need outsiders to deal with it.

"Since this method doesn't work, there is another way."

Fang Chongyong said calmly.

"any solution?"

Zheng Shuqing and Yan Zhenqing asked with surprise on their faces.

"This... I don't dare to say it. The prime ministers and ministers of the DPRK are always jealous and care about their face. What I said is nonsense."

Fang Chongyong sneered at Yan Zhenqing in a strange way.

Yan Zhenqing smiled and patted her chest and promised, "Don't worry, as long as it's not a matter of dead people capsizing this time, I won't object again."

"Then I really said what I said, don't scold me."

Fang Chongyong chuckled.

(End of this chapter)