I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 505 Love from the people! Our Su Zhongcheng cannot be wrong
February 19th.

The "Draft of the Overall Strategy for the Construction of Twenty-Four Streets in Bianjing" published by businessman Shangguan Yu in a folk tabloid continued to ferment and became increasingly popular.

There are many people discussing this on the streets, and most of them are supporters.

Officials also began discussing the matter.

Su Liang deduced.

With such momentum, Shangguan Yu will soon petition Kaifeng Prefecture or the Three Departments with the support of the people.

This kind of bottom-up urban housing reform initiative initiated by the public is very rare.

Su Liang couldn't help but admire Shangguan Yu, a businessman he had never met before.

This person knows how to use the people's hearts to get things done.

He also cleverly used Su Liang and Cao Yi as his own banners.

Su Liang knew.

If these twenty-four old streets were rebuilt, it would indeed make the city of Bianjing more luxurious and would also increase the commercial tax rate of Kaifeng Prefecture.

However, he didn't like to do that.

If Su Liang wanted to transform the city of Bianjing, he had too many ways to do it.

Ten restaurants more magnificent than Fanlou can be built in the city.

You can build a series of ultra-high-end and luxurious teahouses and operate them into the most lively places in the entire Bianjing city.

But do it.

The bustling atmosphere of Bianjing City was gone.

In those days, Su Liang built the Nanjiao Market.

On the one hand, it was to solve the congestion in Bianjing City, and on the other hand, it was because the lower-class people originally lived outside the city, and all the business profits were seized by the big businessmen.

With the Nanjiao Market, the lower-class people can live a better life.

But if all these 24 old streets were demolished.

Those who were driven away were the original inhabitants of Bianjing City and some "fly restaurants", and once the Twenty-four Streets of Bianjing were completed, the business of thousands of restaurants and teahouses in Bianjing City would be encroached upon.

According to the scene planned by Shangguan Yu.

He wanted to turn these twenty-four streets into the first choice for the wealthy to eat, drink, relax and discuss business.

We need to transform the original blooming of hundreds of flowers into a single flower that stands out.

This move enriched the imperial court and the big businessmen, and also made the city of Bianliang even more magnificent.

But it left small merchants and the lower-class indigenous people in the city of Bianliang without their livelihoods.

Originally, the twenty-four streets could support more than 100,000 families, but now they can only support a few tycoons with a fortune of 100,000 taels.

As the number one city in the world, Bianjing City had a huge influence on all the prefectures in the Song Dynasty.

If only the states did the same.

Do whatever they can to make money and raise the court's commercial taxes in whatever way they want, without considering the livelihoods of the lower-class people. This will destroy many of their living habits and turn the city into a heartless den of money.

In Su Liang's eyes.

Even if the Song Dynasty wanted to transform cities, it should transform those poor and backward cities, such as the poor northwest and southwest regions.

The current city of Bianjing can fully meet the needs of the people and no large-scale transformation is needed.

It is better not to change than to change.

At present, Su Liang is puzzled as to why he cannot hear the voices of opposition from the grassroots people.

……

afternoon.

Su Liang came to Niuxing Street in the northwest of Bianjing City.

Niuxing Street.

As the name suggests, it is a place where oxen are rented to pull heavy objects.

Many people living around the city of Bianjing used oxen to plow the fields during the busy farming season, and rented the oxen to city dwellers to pull heavy objects during the slack season.

Although the people living in Niuxing Street are city dwellers, they are also the lower class and rely on renting oxen to pull goods to support their families.

This business has been around for thousands of years.

Some of the people on this street who make a living by renting cattle have passed the business down from father to son, and then from son to grandson, and the business has now reached the third generation.

After Su Liang got off the carriage, he sat down in a simple tea stall.

The owner of the tea stall is an old man.

He walked over quickly carrying a large teapot covered with patina.

"Sir, how many bowls would you like?"

"One bowl is enough." Su Liang said with a smile.

The owner of the teahouse picked up the large black porcelain bowl that was upside down on the table and poured a full bowl for Su Liang.

Then, he was given two steamed dates.

Su Liang took a sip and found the tea very bitter.

This tea is made from cheap tea dregs. Although it tastes bitter, it is better than drinking salty water and is very thirst-quenching. It is a favorite of laborers.

One penny for a bowl, with two steamed dates as a gift; if you don’t eat the dates, one penny gets you two bowls.

Su Liang looked at the tea shed owner and asked, "Boss, I heard that some people advocate demolishing the old street and building a new street. Niuxing Street is within the possible demolition range. What do you think?"

The tea stall owner sighed helplessly.

"Alas! I have been selling big bowls of tea here for forty years. If I really leave, I don't know how I will make a living."

Seeing that he was unwilling to move, Su Liang asked again: "This proposal was made by a businessman, not the court. If you have any opinions, you can report them to Kaifeng Prefecture. Maybe they can stop it!"

Hearing this, the tea stall owner rolled his eyes at Su Liang.

"Stop talking nonsense!"

The owner of the tea stall took out a tabloid containing the "Draft of the General Strategy for the Construction of Twenty-four Streets in Bianjing" from not far away and handed it to Su Liang.

"Judging from the way you're dressed, you should be able to read!"

"Look at what's written above. Although I can't read, I've heard the clerk on the corner talk about the content of this article."

"This move is for the good of Bianjing City and the Song Dynasty. Even Su Zhongcheng thinks so. Can something Su Zhongcheng approves be wrong?"

"It is our incompetence that holds Bianjing City back. Let us go, we have no choice but to go!"

Hearing this, Su Liang didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

It turns out that these people did not resist because they believed in themselves and considered themselves incompetent, so they held back.

"Central Prime Minister Su hasn't said anything about this yet, and he can't represent your interests, so what he said might be wrong!" Su Liang said.

"boom!"

Su Liang's words had just fallen.

The teahouse owner placed the teapot heavily on the table where Su Liang was sitting, and then glared at him and said, "What qualifications do you have to say bad things about Su Zhongcheng?"

"Without him, there would be no Nanjiao Market; without him, would there be so few casualties in Xihe's expansion? Without him, there would be no current reforms throughout the Song Dynasty..."

"I don't welcome people like you. I won't charge you for tea. Go away!"

The owner of the tea stall was obviously angry. He clenched his fists and almost wanted to hit Su Liang.

Su Liang took out a penny from his waist, put it on the table and left quickly.

Just now, the owner of the tea stall kept praising him.

But he felt very uncomfortable. Many lower-class people don't know right from wrong, but they can recognize people.

For example, they recognized Fan Zhongyan's patriotism, Bao Zheng's fairness, and Fu Bi's loyalty to the emperor and love for the people...

They also approved of all the reform measures proposed by Su Liang.

Su Liang's words are mentioned many times in the "Draft of the General Strategy for the Construction of Twenty-Four Streets in Bianjing".

He also cited the examples of the Nanjiao Market and Nancheng Jucheng, which Su Liang advocated to build, to make the people believe that this action was implementing Su Liang's ideas.

They believed Su Liang, so they looked for the reasons in themselves.

Being trusted by the people is a good thing, but it also comes with a heavy responsibility. Su Liang plans to submit a memorial to oppose this matter early tomorrow morning.

……

A quarter of an hour later.

Su Liang ordered the coachman to drive to the Sansi Yamen.

Wang Yaochen, the Three-Division Envoy, was very pleased with the general plan. Su Liang wanted to persuade him first and then bring Bao Zheng along so that the three of them could meet the emperor together.

After all, the demolition and reconstruction of houses and streets in Kaifeng Prefecture would definitely go through the hands of Bao Zheng and Wang Yaochen.

After a while.

As soon as Su Liang arrived at the Sansi Yamen, he saw some people gathered in front of the door, and he also vaguely heard Wang Anshi's voice.

Su Liang immediately dismounted, walked in and saw two people standing in front of the Sansi Yamen.

One is Wang Anshi.

One was a middle-aged man wearing a brocade robe and with a thin face.

Wang Anshi looked at the middle-aged man with a slightly annoyed expression.

"If the twenty-four streets of Bianjing are renovated, there will be no fireworks in the city, and Bianjing will be soulless. Bianjing is a city for the people, not a city for the rich and the nobles!"

"Official Wang, I thought that as a pioneer of reform in our dynasty, you would be able to accept new things, but I didn't expect you to be so conservative!"

"As a businessman, I am doing this to make Bianjing more prosperous and for the people in the city to live a better life! This is what the people want. You...what qualifications do you have to stop me from seeing Prime Minister Ji?"

"He is Shangguan Yu?" Su Liang was stunned.

Wang Anshi folded the sleeves of his official robe and continued, "I am not trying to stop you, but I think that you are publishing the Draft of the Construction Plan for the Twenty-Four Streets of Bianjing in a folk tabloid, which is suspected of inciting public opinion for personal gain!"

"You keep saying that you are doing this for the sake of Bianjing City, but if these 24 streets were handed over to you, regardless of whether the housing prices would rise in the future, you would be able to make a lot of money just from the business of the shops. And you still dare to say that it is not for personal gain?"

Shangguan Yu curled his lips and smiled, looking around.

"Everyone, I, Shangguan Yu, proposed to renovate the 24 streets of Bianjing. The original intention has been clearly written in the folk tabloids. This matter will greatly benefit Bianjing, and I have to bear the cost. I open a shop to make money, but it is beneficial to the court and the city of Bianjing. Is there anything wrong with this? Isn't this the responsibility of a Confucian businessman? While working for the court, I also do business!"

"Isn't that what Uncle Cao did after he went into business?"

Aren't his Nanjiao Market, Nancheng Jucheng, and the many shops in the city also for the purpose of promoting the trade of Bianjing and making money? Otherwise, how could Uncle Cao become the richest man in Kaifeng in just a few years? "

"What he can do, why can't I do it!"

"In addition, Su Zhongcheng has always advocated the prosperity of commerce, and he also emphasized the reform of the whole people. As an ordinary citizen of the Song Dynasty, this plan is what I want to contribute to the Song Dynasty. Why can't it be possible?"

"Does Wang Tuiguan think that the King's uncle did something wrong? Did Su Zhongcheng do something wrong? Did the National Reform also do something wrong?" Shangguan Yu asked back.

Su Liang couldn't help but laugh when he heard these words.

Shangguan Yu is really good at speaking.

This trick of transplanting flowers and trees made Wang Anshi so choked that he didn't know how to respond.

at this time.

Wang Yaochen, the Third Secretary, strode out.

"Wang Jiefu, what are you doing? Why are you preventing Shangguan Yu from seeing me? You are in charge of the gate of the Sansi, can you let anyone in if you want?"

"Just now you were arguing with me, and I didn't give you any respect. Now you are showing off your authority in front of me. Who gave you the power?"

Say it.

Wang Yaochen looked at Shangguan Yu and said with a smile, "Brother Shangguan, let's talk about this."

Wang Yaochen had known Shangguan Yu for a long time.

He was quite polite to this big taxpayer of commercial taxes.

At this time.

Wang Anshi came to Wang Yaochen and said, "Prime Minister, I suggest that we discuss this matter in front of the Sansi Gate. This matter was originally caused by public opinion, so it doesn't matter if the people hear it."

Wang Yaochen glared at him.

"Wait until you enter the government hall before talking to me like this!" After saying that, Wang Yaochen was about to enter the government office with Shangguan Yu.

Just then, Su Liang's voice came from outside.

"Xiang Ji, wait a minute!"

Su Liang walked out from behind the crowd.

"Jingming, why are you in the crowd? Come quickly, come quickly, I'm just about to look for you, let's discuss things inside."

When Wang Anshi and Shangguan Yu saw Su Liang, their eyes lit up.

Shangguan Yu quickly bowed to Su Liang and said, "Mr. Shangguan Yu, I pay my respects to Minister Su."

Wang Anshi pouted, looking aggrieved.

Su Liang nodded slightly towards Shangguan Yu, then patted Wang Anshi on the shoulder, and then looked around.

"My fellow countrymen, I am Su Liang, the Chief Censor. The court has not yet started discussing the construction of the 24 streets in Bianjing. All the claims of demolition are just rumors."

"Since this matter has spread widely in the streets of Bianjing, we will give an answer after we report it to the government."

"In addition, the Draft of the Overall Plan for the Construction of the Twenty-Four Streets in Bianjing only represents the author's thoughts. It has nothing to do with me and does not represent my views. I have never expressed my support for this matter."

As soon as these words fell.

Wang Anshi smiled, Shangguan Yu frowned slightly, and Wang Yaochen was a little confused.

The people watching were also a little confused.

Su Liang said this, seemingly not supporting this matter.

Immediately.

Wang Yaochen, Su Liang, Wang Anshi and Shangguan Yu entered the government office.

The onlookers also dispersed.

But Su Liang's words will spread quickly, and some smart people will definitely come up with some other speculations.

……

The reason why Su Liang did not express his thoughts immediately.

This is because Cao Yi, the uncle of the Cao State, did become the richest man in Bianliang through business.

Shangguan Yu was just using the guise of Cao Guojiu and thought there was no problem for him to become the "second Cao Guojiu".

Su Liang knew that Cao Yi had traveled far and wide to promote the trade of the Song Dynasty and had suffered a lot. The emperor also knew it, but this did not prove that Shangguan Yu was not such a person.

At present, the lower-class people in Bianjing City have no say, and those who can make their voices heard are either rich or noble.

Most of them were wealthy, so they naturally hoped that the city of Bianjing could be more luxurious so that they could live more comfortably.

But Su Liang stands on the side of the minority.

One must think carefully before expressing one's ideas, otherwise it is easy to bring trouble to Cao Guojiu and make the people think that this is an expression of "the officials are allowed to set fires, but the people are not allowed to light lamps."

According to Shangguan Yu's status, he had no qualifications to argue with Wang Anshi, but now he had the public opinion under his control and had brought Su Liang and Cao Guojiu into his business plans, so he could not be underestimated.

Public opinion is close to royal power.

(End of this chapter)