I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 439 The king and his ministers are united! If we are not crazy anymore, we will be old (2 in 1)

Inside the Chui Gong Hall.

It was so quiet that you could hear the breathing of the ministers.

Zhao Zhen's meaning is obvious.

"I want to overhaul the "Song Xingtong". Not only can you not object, but you must also help me complete this matter smoothly."

Laws and regulations are the spirit and spirit of a country.

Overhauling the law means adjusting the order of the entire Song Dynasty.

It can be seen from Zhao Zhen's sentence "My method of the Song Dynasty should not be a tool to restrain the people, but should make them live happier."

He believes that the current laws of the Song Dynasty are too loose and have no deterrent effect on some "privileged people".

Therefore, the direction of this overhaul of "Song Xingtong" is -

The officials all lowered their voices, not wanting Zhao Zhen to hear what they were saying.

"I don't agree either!"

Among everyone, these four people are the well-deserved top four.

It is impossible for the officials to come back before reaching a consensus.

"The major revision of the "Song Xingtong" is to make the law more perfect. We are serious about revising it, and it is impossible to revise it improperly. As for whether we will be stigmatized, it is unfounded to worry about the consequences of failure before we do it. It makes no sense! "

"Third, I thought about it again and again. The "Song Xingtong" has only one benefit, and that is to further enhance the imperial power. Today's officials are kind and loving to the people, and are dedicated to rejuvenating the country. If future generations encounter tyrannical monarchs, because of the new "Song Xingtong" "Unification" makes it more authoritarian, and it is very easy to cultivate a king who will subjugate the country! "

Zhao Zhen just said, "Anyone who opposes this matter will immediately withdraw from Chui Gong Hall."

Zhang Fangping looked at Song Xiang and said, "Xiangong Song, you have a good reason, why don't you say it in front of the officials?"

Privy Councilor Di Qing, Right Secretary Su Liang, and Third Secretary Salt and Iron Officer Wang Anshi also stood up at the same time.

"I disagree!"

"First, why did we, the Song Dynasty, want to change the law? It is because the laws of our ancestors can no longer sustain the development of the Song Dynasty today, so we have to change."

The edict is not as good as the law.

"Everyone, "Song Xingtong" must not be moved!"

Edicts are special regulations issued by the emperor on specific matters and people.

"First, violating the ancestral system has caused the collapse of the original laws of the Song Dynasty. If it is not repaired properly, it will cause many problems. It will not only bring infamy to the emperor and ministers of the current dynasty, but also endanger local stability and cause civil strife! "

Immediately, Zhao Zhen went to the side hall to rest.

Zhao Zhen also knew that he needed to give the ministers some time to think and discuss, and immediately said: "I am a little tired, so I will take a nap first, and you guys can think about it carefully!"

"Secondly, it affects the stability of the scholar-bureaucrats. This overhaul will undoubtedly weaken the power of the scholar-bureaucrats and affect their rights and interests. If all the local officials hold objections, it will be difficult for the court to be peaceful!"

"Secondly, the direction of overhauling the "Song Xingtong" is indeed to weaken the power of scholar-officials, but the lower officials think it should be weakened."

All the ministers breathed a sigh of relief.

"In accordance with the wishes of the officials, overhauling the "Song Xingtong" will inevitably change the ancestral system of 'lenient benevolence and caution in punishment', emphasizing the rule of law and neglecting reason. Such an overhaul will cause three irreversible harms!"

Sometimes it is a supplement to "Song Xingtong", and sometimes it is a change of the content of "Song Xingtong".

"I agree with Song Xianggong's statement. Overhauling the "Song Xingtong" will break the bones and cause serious consequences. We must not make major changes! We can completely fine-tune the "Song Xingtong" by relying on the "Compilation Edict" as we did in the past. , the edicts and laws are paralleled or the edicts are used to break the laws, there is no need for major revisions!”

Everyone knows it.

The ministers thought for a moment.

"According to the official's attitude just now, if I spoke out, I might have been kicked out."

"We value the rule of law and ignore ethics."

After Song Xiang finished speaking, Zhang Fangping immediately stood up.

Wang Anshi was the most excited.

Song Xiang rolled his eyes at him.

"I agree with the opinions of the two ministers. The officials were angered by this foreign tour, so they came up with the idea of ​​overhauling the "Song Xingtong". What we have to consider now is how to persuade the officials to withdraw this idea."

Fu Bi, Zeng Gongliang, Liang Shi, Sima Guang and other officials on the side looked hesitant and had not yet decided which side to stand on.

They come from: Wu Yu, who is a political official, Bao Zheng, who is a member of the Kaifeng Prefecture, Fan Zhen, who is a censor and also knows miscellaneous affairs, and He Tan, who is Zuo Sijian.

He was the first to speak: "Prime Minister Song, I feel that the three reasons you gave are biased."

On knowing the laws.

But if the emperor is powerful, he can order edicts instead of laws and implement them.

Wen Yanbo nodded.

They all whispered to each other.

This is obviously contrary to the "tolerant rule" that the Song Dynasty has always pursued.

As soon as Prime Minister Wen Yanbo finished speaking, four voices sounded at the same time.

Song Xiang, who was sitting on the far left side of the front row, watched the officials go away. The door to the side hall slowly closed and he couldn't help but stand up immediately.

"I will give you an example. If you were told about Kaifeng Mansion, the punishment results for you and Bao Xueshi would definitely be different. But if the "Song Xingtong" is revised, the laws will be more stringent and detailed, and some favors based on privileges will disappear. , the deviations in judging cases will be reduced a lot. It’s not that the law is ungrateful, but that our current law is too empathetic!”

"Thirdly, I don't think it will lead to imperial tyranny. The laws are ruthless. What you said will lead to imperial tyranny and subsequent troubles are only due to the weakening of the power of scholar-bureaucrats!"

"With all due respect, my official, at present, the power of the chief officials in various places is too great. Many things are based on reasonable assumptions, and they have long lost their sense of proportion."

"At the beginning of the founding of our country, the status of scholar-officials was continuously improved, not because the scholar-officials were good enough and good at governing the country, but to prevent military generals from taking power. But now the power of civilian officials is higher than the law, and it is time to weaken it!"

"The overhaul of "Song Xingtong" is actually the most meaningful step in the entire Song Dynasty's reform process."

"In the course of the reform in the past five years, we have discovered many problems, and we all know that there are problems with our laws and regulations. Why can't we make drastic changes? We cannot attribute the law to the power of officials, but must attribute the law to the law. Overhaul the "Song Dynasty" "Xingtong" actually allowed the Song Dynasty to move forward in a more fair and just way, what's wrong with that?"

"Anyone who opposes it has selfish motives and is doing it for their own power!"

Wang Anshi’s words.

The entire Chui Gong Hall was quiet again.

He was so bold to say it, and his reasons were very solid.

Zhang Fangping and Song Xiang opened their mouths several times, but neither could think of how to defend themselves.

Fortunately, Wang Anshi is still young.

If he is forty years old now, he will definitely have a place in Zhongshu Provincial Political Affairs Hall.

At this moment, no one can suppress him.

"Cough cough..."

At this time, Fu Bi spoke.

"Jiefu, let's discuss the matter as it is, without any personal attacks. Everyone has selfish motives and cannot be restrained by the virtue of a saint. I think that although what you said is not wrong, it is too idealistic!"

"How can there be absolute fairness and justice in the world? No matter how the "Song Xingtong" is revised, there will be flaws. Strict laws can punish the evil in the world, but careful punishment can also win the hearts of the people all over the world. I think this idea of ​​​​the officials is still too reckless. !”

at this time.

Privy Councilor Di Qing, who never liked to speak, spoke up.

"Everyone, I don't think it's that serious. If the "Song Xingtong" is not revised, the reform of the entire Song Dynasty will still go smoothly, but it will be slower; the overhaul of the "Song Xingtong" will not lead to internal chaos in our dynasty and the subjugation of the country in later generations. Jun."

"These are all speculations on everyone's part."

"I support the overhaul of "Song Xingtong" because I feel that if "Song Xingtong" is not revised, the Song Dynasty will become richer and stronger in a few years, but it will still be difficult to surpass the prosperous Tang Dynasty. If "Song Xingtong" is overhauled , but there will be more possibilities.”

"During the foreign tour in Taiwan, officials came to see me several times, and they were all talking about one thing: recovering the old lands of the Han and Tang Dynasties."

"The officials originally thought that they would send Taiwan to remonstrate with them, and they would definitely bring back proud results, and then they could devote all their efforts to regaining the old lands of the Han and Tang Dynasties, but they didn't expect so many things to happen."

"The reason why the officials proposed to overhaul the "Song Xingtong" is because they want the Song Dynasty to take a big step forward and fulfill the aspirations of our ancestors. There is actually not much time left for us. If our generation cannot complete it, the next generation will Will it definitely be better than us?"

He violated the laws of his ancestors and overhauled the "Song Xingtong" in order to fulfill his ancestors' aspirations. This explanation is very clever.

Wang Anshi's words did not cause everyone to nod, but Di Qing's words made all the officials in the palace nod.

Overhaul of "Song Xingtong".

It may not be a perfect strategy, but it can clean up the Song Dynasty in a shorter period of time.

If something goes wrong.

After realizing it later, we make up for it and rely on "compilation of edicts" to solve problems.

The internal problems within the Song Dynasty will probably take several years to deal with.

At present, the Song Dynasty is on the upswing, the kings are virtuous and the ministers are strong, but the next generation is still full of unknowns.

and.

The little emperor of Xixia is growing up, and the dispute between the emperor's younger brother and the crown prince of Liao will soon come to an end. Both Xixia and Liao may become stronger.

By then, the Song Dynasty will be even more passive.

this moment.

The issue debated by the ministers has evolved into: whether to be a virtuous minister in the Zhongxing Dynasty steadily, or to take a big risk and become an eternal famous minister in the prosperous Song Dynasty.

Song Xiang stood up and said: "I agree with the overhaul of "Song Xingtong"!"

Zhang Fangping also said: "I also agree with the overhaul of "Song Xingtong"!"

"Seconded!"

"Seconded!"

"Seconded!"

……

In the blink of an eye.

The ministers in the palace reached a consensus and all agreed to overhaul the "Song Xingtong".

Su Liang suddenly laughed.

He initially agreed, but when it came to convincing the opponents with reasons, his words were almost the same as those of Wang Anshi.

But Di Qing took a different approach and put forward a theory that "the purpose of going against the ancestors is to fulfill the ancestors' aspirations."

This is indeed what the officials are thinking at the moment.

Since taking office personally, he has dreamed of becoming a charioteer and conquering the country himself.

At first, he had no rights and could not give birth, then he had no children and could not give birth. Now, if he survives for another ten years, he may be too old to give birth.

Now, several sets of his armors and weapons have been made, and they are all stored in the weapons and weapons department of the military camp in the south of the city.

At this time.

Prime Minister Wen Yanbo said again: "Everyone, although we have reached a consensus, we still have to convince all the scholar-bureaucrats and officials. This is also a difficult problem!"

Debates in the Song Dynasty on some matters sometimes lasted for two or three years.

Su Liang puffed up his chest and said, "Everyone, I think that since we all want to go against the laws of our ancestors and reshape the order of the Song Dynasty, we might as well make it simple and rough!"

"If there are opponents in Beijing, let them go to Zhongshu or the Reform Department to argue; if there are opponents in the local area, we will write memorials and argue with them. In the entire Song Dynasty, who can distinguish our group of people!"

"The officials have agreed to this matter. Officials from the two government departments, the three departments, the Taiwan Admonition Department, and the Reform Department have all agreed. Who else can make waves!"

"At the moment, we are the ones carrying the Song Dynasty on our shoulders. We don't need to consider too many people's opinions. If we think it is right, we will never look back. History will give us a fair evaluation!"

immediately.

Su Liang raised his voice and said: "Creating the prosperous age of the Song Dynasty and taking over the old lands of the Han and Tang Dynasties must be completed in our generation. If you don't go crazy, we will be old!"

Su Liang is indeed the best chicken soup master in the Song Dynasty.

The last sentence, "If we don't go crazy, we will be old," suddenly aroused everyone's emotions, and everyone vowed in their hearts to make this happen.

At this moment, inside the side hall.

Zhao Zhen leaned against the wall, holding a long paper tube, and could clearly hear the words in the Chui Gong Hall.

This eavesdropping skill came from Su Liang's son Su Zimu.

The current Zhao Zhen is no longer the honest and loyal official. The ministers are discussing that only by knowing all the opinions can he prescribe the right medicine.

When you are an emperor, you also need to be cunning, otherwise you will be kept in the dark about many things.

……

After a while.

Zhao Zhen pretended not to know anything and came to the throne.

"My lords, have you thought about it?"

Prime Minister Wen Yanbo immediately said: "Guan family, after thinking about it, we all agree to overhaul the "Song Xingtong". Zhongshu and the Reform Department will work together to persuade the opponents, and at the same time solicit local officials' opinions on revising the "Song Xingtong". I recommend it. Vice Prime Minister Wu and Bachelor Bao are two majoring officers, and the initial plan is to use one year to complete the overhaul plan of "Song Xingtong"..."

"It's feasible." Zhao Zhen nodded with satisfaction.

……

June 20th.

Zhongshu Province promulgated the "Regulations on the Collection of Repairs and Renovations of the Xingtong System of the Song Dynasty" and consulted officials from all over the world.

The Jinzouyuandi newspaper and the Kaifengfufu newspaper all published articles telling the world why the "Song Xingtong" should be overhauled.

When officials learned of the court's intention to revise it, there were many opponents.

Memorials poured into the ban like snowflakes, and the reasons were varied.

What's more, they clamored that if the officials did not abandon this policy, they would go and guard the mausoleum of Taizu Taizong.

Faced with such similar requests, Zhao Zhen always agreed directly.

move.

Discussions were also fierce on the streets, and many people expressed their opinions.

Officials such as Bao Zheng, Ouyang Xiu, Su Liang, and Wang Anshi also wrote articles analyzing the pros and cons of overhauling the "Song Xingtong".

at the same time.

Officials of the Reform Department also began to respond to objections submitted by officials from other places, explaining to them the benefits of overhauling the "Song Xingtong".

……

On the third day of July, the Reform Department.

Fu Bi came to Su Liang and Wang Anshi with a stack of memorials in his arms.

"Boy, let's see how we should reply to these seven memorials. I must avoid suspicion!"

"avoid arousing suspicion?"

Su Liang and Wang Anshi were both stunned.

Wang Anshi opened the memorial and looked at it, and said: "Gong Yan? Did Duke Yan submit seven memorials to oppose the overhaul of "Song Xingtong"?"

The only person in the world who could be called Duke Yan was Yan Shu.

Yan Shu was Fu Bi's father-in-law. He had been a local official since he was exiled in the fourth year of Qingli Dynasty. He had not raised any opinions on the new laws of the imperial court, neither good nor bad.

He has always been moderate and cautious in dealing with things.

Su Liang was not surprised that he raised objections, but the fact that he submitted seven memoranda to object would inevitably increase the opposition among officials.

It is somewhat difficult to convince this former emperor's teacher.

(End of this chapter)