I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 575 Extra 8: The Debate between the Emperor and His Subjects: Zhao Zhen VS Su Liang
The autumn of the first year of Huangyou was the first year of the reform throughout the Song Dynasty.

With the implementation of a series of reform policies such as the law to suppress the merger of land, the green seedlings law, the exemption from military service law, the law to equalize the taxation of square fields, the farmland and water conservancy law, the market exchange law, and the Hundred-Day Evaluation Policy.

The comprehensive reform of the Song Dynasty spread like wildfire and was in full swing, gradually getting on the right track.

That afternoon, inside the Chuigong Hall.

Zhao Zhen was holding a document, his brows furrowed, his face becoming increasingly gloomy.

"The Dali Temple has reported to the emperor that as many as ninety-three officials have been sentenced to death. Isn't this ridiculous? Summon the Dali Temple Minister and the Chief Judge of the Criminal Court, Zhao Gai, to see me immediately!"

"Yes." The eunuch at the side quickly ran out of the hall.

The so-called capital punishment is the death penalty.

The judicial system of the Song Dynasty was inherited from that of the Tang Dynasty, but was more relaxed than that of the Tang Dynasty.

The review of the death penalty is even more stringent.

The various criminal justice departments and provincial governments only have the power to interrogate and draft sentences for death penalty cases, but not the power to make final decisions.

All death penalty cases must be submitted to the Dali Temple for review, then discussed in detail by the Criminal Court, reviewed by the Secretariat, and finally approved by the emperor before execution.

Zhao Zhen has always been kind.

Even if common people committed capital crimes, as long as they were not extremely evil, they would be punished with "exile + caning + tattooing" instead.

For some revenge killings, killings out of filial piety, and serious crimes committed in special circumstances such as disasters and famines, lighter sentences or amnesty will be given.

It is even more lenient towards officials.

Unless it is for a serious crime such as rebellion, the death penalty is rarely imposed.

Although the rule of not killing scholars and officials has been abolished, only five officials were executed last year.

Now, the number of officials sentenced to death within two months was as high as ninety-three, which naturally puzzled him.

……

After a while.

Zhao Gai, the Minister of Dali Temple and the Chief Judge of the Criminal Court, came into the hall.

"Minister Zhao, executing ninety-three officials at one time has never been a precedent in our dynasty. Why did the Dali Temple make such a ruling? Does the Zhongshu have no objection?" Zhao Zhen asked, holding the document.

Zhao Gai bowed respectfully.

"Your Majesty, the officials on this list were all investigated for their poor performance in the Hundred Days Examination. Therefore, it was handled by the Reform Department and was submitted directly to the Imperial Court by the Dali Temple without being reviewed by the Secretariat."

"At first, I had my objections, but when Censor Su came with not only the files but also the Song Dynasty Criminal Code."

"According to the Song Dynasty Criminal Code, officials who accepted bribes and violated the law shall be strangled with 15 horses. Among these 93 officials, more than half were corrupt and took bribes, while others were involved in murder cases and should be executed according to the law."

"The dossier has the signatures of Minister Fan and Minister Fu. Censor Su also told me that according to the rules of the reform, these officials must be sentenced to death. If the emperor has any doubts, he will come to explain to the emperor. Therefore, after I have reviewed it, I will hand it over to the emperor for the final review."

Zhao Zhen looked ahead, thought for a moment, and said, "According to the Song Dynasty Criminal Code, they should all be executed, but everyone knows that officials can be stripped of their official positions and have their sentences reduced, or be pardoned for their past merits. If I kill them all, won't the local officials blame me for being ungrateful?"

Hearing this, Zhao Gai trembled with fear and dared not say anything.

What Zhao Zhen said also makes sense.

The Song Dynasty sentenced thousands of prisoners to death every year, but only two or three out of ten were actually executed.

On the one hand, the imperial court would grant amnesty when the new year was changed, during the three-year suburban sacrifice, and even during the New Year holidays. Basically, those who committed the most heinous crime could be exempted from the death penalty.

On the other hand, the government has always been known for its benevolence. To maintain this reputation, it will try every means to reduce killing and cruelty. Even if some death row criminals die in exile, they will not directly sentence them to death.

not to mention.

Those to be executed were ninety-three scholar-officials with meritorious service. It would be very easy for the court to find a reason to commute their death sentence.

It is impossible that Su Liang was unaware of the inside story. There must be a reason for him to do so.

"Summon the Censor Su Liang to see you!" Zhao Zhen said.

……

Half an hour later, Su Liang arrived at the Chuigong Hall.

When he made eye contact with Zhao Gai, he understood what the government had told him to do.

"Su Qing, please explain it to me!" Zhao Zhen looked at Su Liang and asked.

Su Liang took a step forward and bowed slightly.

"Your Majesty, the crimes of these ninety-three officials were revealed during the implementation of the Hundred-Day Performance Evaluation System. According to the Song Dynasty Criminal Code, they should be sentenced to death."

"I believe that during the Reform period, officials who commit crimes must be severely punished to serve as a warning to others. Therefore, after discussing with Minister Fan and Minister Fu of the Reform Office, it was decided to impose the death penalty, which will be carried out immediately."

"I wonder what questions the official has?"

Zhao Zhen rolled his eyes at Su Liang.

"Su Qing, why are you still speaking in an official tone to me?"

"You know that our dynasty has always disliked the death penalty. After all, they are from scholar-officials. If they are executed directly, it will damage the dignity of the court and will easily cause shock to local officials, affecting the implementation of the reform policy. Find a reason to sentence them to exile and tattoo their faces, wouldn't the effect be the same?"

"Officials, it's different!"

Su Liang suddenly raised his voice.

"What's the difference? This move not only gets rid of these officials, but also shows that the court is gracious and generous, isn't it?"

"Your Majesty, a death penalty is a death penalty. Finding reasons to reduce it is not the way to reform the law now. You...you advocate this for the sake of your own reputation of being kind, right?" Su Liang suddenly asked back.

These words made Zhao Zhen blush.

I didn't expect Su Liang to speak so directly. It was obvious that he used official language just now to force out his true feelings.

Zhao Zhen looked at Su Liang.

"Su Qing, there are no outsiders here, so I'll be frank. Isn't it right for me to treat officials with kindness?"

"wrong!"

Su Liang straightened his chest and said loudly: "Your Majesty, there is nothing wrong with being kind, but being too kind is wrong. It is wrong to be kind to a guilty person. For a ruler of a country, being too kind is closer to being stupid than being wise! If you want to be a wise ruler, you must not be too kind!"

"A local official controls the lives of the people. If he bends the law for personal gain, the officials below him will follow suit, and the people will suffer. If he is not executed, it will not be enough to appease the people's anger, and it will not be enough to set things right."

"Since ascending the throne, the emperor has been too benevolent, causing officials all over the world to think that the emperor is easy to bully and deceive, and the emperor will not severely punish officials!"

"This has led many local officials to believe that even if they have committed a serious crime, as long as they admit their mistakes to the government and are sincere, they can be given a lighter punishment. As a result, many officials act recklessly and have no fear of the court's laws at all!"

"Now is the time for the whole Song Dynasty to reform. I think the government should throw away the burden of being a so-called 'benevolent monarch' and be decisive in killing and punishing those who go against the reform. If you continue to treat court officials too kindly as usual, smooth things over, and give light sentences to serious crimes, then the reform will be difficult to achieve and the prosperity will be difficult to achieve!"

"I would like to take this opportunity to advise the emperor that a benevolent emperor is easy to be, but a wise emperor is not. I hope the emperor will abandon his past attitude towards the royal family, relatives, and officials, rectify the laws, reform the whole Song Dynasty, and be a wise emperor, rather than a benevolent emperor who does nothing."

……

After Su Liang finished speaking his opinion in one breath, he bowed heavily.

At this moment, Zhao Gai kept his head down.

He didn't dare to speak, and even his breathing slowed down a lot.

Su Liang is so bold!

What he just said can be summed up in one sentence: Since the emperor ascended the throne until now, he has been acting as a benevolent monarch who does nothing, rather than a wise monarch.

Su Liang completely denied the reputation of a benevolent monarch that the government had long worked hard to create.

If these words were heard by the old ministers in the imperial court, and by the scholars and literati all over the world, they would probably be drowned in saliva.

How disrespectful! How bigoted! How outrageous!

Zhao Gai sighed, thank goodness it was Su Liang who said this.

Otherwise, no matter how good the emperor's temper is, he probably can't stand being humiliated by his subjects.

At this moment, Zhao Zhen also fell into silence.

For a long time, the title of benevolent monarch was like a golden shield covering him.

He liked the reputation of a benevolent monarch very much, and would think about whether anything he did was in line with benevolence.

But today, he suddenly felt that his golden body was broken.

The officials he valued most actually thought that his long-term benevolence was excessive and that it made his emperor's career mediocre and ineffective...

This made Zhao Zhen somewhat unable to accept, and he felt a huge sense of frustration. Benevolent monarch, these were the two words he cared about the most.

He hopes that a hundred years later, everyone in the future will think of these two words when they see his name.

Zhao Zhen slowed down and looked at Su Liang.

"Can't I be a benevolent ruler and a wise ruler at the same time?"

Hearing this, Su Liang breathed a sigh of relief.

The official asked this question, which proved that he was not angry, but was thinking about the issue seriously.

Su Liang shook his head, looking serious.

"Sometimes, the benevolence of the government is a violation of the law, such as in this case. A wise and holy ruler will never allow himself to go beyond the law."

Zhao Zhen sighed and waved at the two of them.

"You guys go down first. Let me think about it. I'll give you a result after I figure it out."

"Yes."

Immediately, Su Liang and Zhao Gai retreated.

As soon as he left the hall, Zhao Gai's legs went limp.

If Su Liang hadn't been quick to help him up, he would have collapsed to the ground.

After a while, the two slowly walked to an empty corridor.

"Su Yushi, you... you are so bold! You gathered together the officials sentenced to death in the past two months, just to say this to the emperor!"

Su Liang nodded.

"You know, the greatest virtue of the emperor is his kindness, which is also what the emperor is most proud of. You are a little paranoid. If the emperor listens to you, will he become tyrannical? Tyranny will harm the government and the people!"

Su Liang smiled and shook his head.

"According to the emperor's character, he will never become a tyrannical monarch. I just want him to become stronger and more decisive, so that he can be closer to a wise monarch!"

"To be kind to the wicked is to persecute the good. The officials of our dynasty have too many privileges, but they bear too few responsibilities. The government should be tougher on them!"

"You are really a lunatic. I can't care less. I will sentence you in whatever way the emperor wants. Don't think I can speak for you. You are the only one in the whole Song Dynasty who dares to humiliate the emperor. Farewell!"

Zhao Gai left quickly. His philosophy of being an official can be summed up in two words: seek stability.

……

More than a quarter of an hour later.

Su Liang returned to the Reform Department.

At this moment, all members of the Reform Department were waiting for Su Liang.

Wang Anshi looked at Su Liang excitedly and asked, "Brother Jingming, have you... told the emperor?"

Su Liang nodded.

Sima Guang couldn't help but give Su Liang a thumbs up and said, "Brother Jingming, you are a true hero."

Liang Shi asked, "How did the emperor answer?"

"The emperor is still hesitating, but I believe that he can jump out of Guo Ren's cage!" Su Liang looked confident.

Fan Zhongyan stroked his beard lightly.

"Let's hope so. Once the government gets over this hurdle, we will be one step closer to a prosperous era.

Su Liang's advice to Zhao Zhen to be too benevolent was exactly what the entire Reform Office had agreed upon.

It is not a bad thing for a ruler to be kind.

However, as far as the reform in the whole Song Dynasty was concerned, Zhao Zhen was too benevolent, which would result in some reform policies not being fully implemented, and would cause some opportunities to be missed due to his indecision.

This cannot be allowed to happen repeatedly during the reforms throughout the Song Dynasty.

……

And this moment.

Zhao Zhen sat in the Chuigong Hall, holding his chin with one hand, and had been thinking for a long time.

He wanted to go to the Reform Office to ask Fan Zhongyan and Fu Bi about their opinions.

But then I thought about it.

Since Fan Fu and the other two allowed the document to be sent to the Dali Temple through Su Liang, it means that they either conspired with Su Liang or were persuaded by Su Liang.

He went over to ask just to listen to Su Liang's words again.

"Is it wrong for me to pursue a reputation for kindness? Am I pursuing a reputation for kindness too much? If I become a wise ruler, can I not be too kind?"

Zhao Zhen said to himself.

At this moment, he felt a little blocked in his heart.

He began to doubt himself and the things he had always wanted to do.

He slowly stood up and prepared to go to the harem to calm down.

But when he thought of Concubine Zhang's smiling face, he suddenly realized that if he had not been too kind, Concubine Zhang might not have been so serious in causing trouble in the harem, and there would not have been a series of incidents involving Zhang Yaozuo in the court.

If Empress Cao had not been so noncompetitive, the struggles in the harem alone would have been enough to keep him busy.

Zhao Zhen thought for a moment, then said to the eunuch beside him, "Prepare the carriages and horses. I am going to leave the palace for a walk."

……

Less than half an hour later.

Zhao Zhen traveled incognito and appeared on Nanmen Street.

He sat in the carriage, looking at the people flowing on the streets, and his heart calmed down a little.

He began to think seriously about Su Liang's words.

The carriages were moving aimlessly along the street.

He saw busy merchants, shouting vendors, imperial guards on horseback, officials riding horses and sitting in sedan chairs...

In the blink of an eye, it was dusk.

The sun sets and the sky gradually darkens.

"For a ruler of a country, being too kind is closer to being stupid than being wise. Su Qing is right, absolutely right!"

"Since I ascended the throne, I have indeed been too kind to officials. What I should abandon is not kindness, but kindness to kind people, not everyone. If I am kind to those who harm good people, that is evil!"

"I am selfish and narrow-minded. I have violated the fairness and justice of the law. I should change. I should strive to become a wise king, a saintly king!"

"Go back to the palace!" Zhao Zhen said excitedly to the coachman outside.

He finally figured it out.

Half an hour later, Zhao Zhen returned to Chuigong Hall.

The first thing he did was to sign and seal the death penalty document.

then.

He said to a eunuch, "Immediately hand this document over to the Dali Temple Minister Zhao Gai, and send someone else to deliver my flying white calligraphy to the Supervisory Censor Su Liang."

After saying that, Zhao Zhen picked up his pen and wrote a few small characters quickly.

The eunuch took the document and the small calligraphy that Zhao Zhen had just written, and ran quickly out of the hall.

……

More than half an hour later.

Su Liang, who was at home, received the Feibai calligraphy given by Zhao Zhen, and couldn't help but smile brightly on his face.

"It seems that the government has gotten rid of the burden of being too benevolent, and the whole Song Dynasty is undergoing reforms. The future is promising, the future is promising!" Su Liang looked at the starry night sky, full of expectations for the future.

The flying white script that Zhao Zhen gave him consisted of only five words: Seeking the virtuous is to obtain benevolence.

(End of this chapter)