At the end of Qin, I became a son of the plane

Chapter 423: The Difficult Blade Turns Inward and Redundant Officials
Starting from January, Xu Fan continued to give speeches at various universities in Chang'an City, calling on young students to bring knowledge to the Han colonies, build a new home for the Han people, and strive to build a world of great harmony.

Young students of the Han Dynasty are always full of enthusiasm, not to mention that Xu Fan, as the emperor, personally supports military reclamation. These students take Xu Fan as an example and have no resistance to military reclamation.

The first batch of students who registered from universities across the country numbered as high as thousands. Their participation provided technical talent to the settlements, enabled them to establish some small workshops locally, and enabled them to develop the fields more effectively.

On February 20th of the 13th year of the Han calendar, in Chang'an City, at the Neishi Mansion.

Neishi Prefecture was the largest prefecture in the entire Han Dynasty, with a total of 41 counties, of which Chang'an County had a population of one million, and the entire Neishi Prefecture had a population of more than 200 million. Li Shang and his 7 Han officials managed a population of more than 15 million, large industrial zones, schools, and thousands of workshops with more than people.

In terms of population and financial resources alone, a Neishi Prefecture was equivalent to a large vassal state, and the government affairs it had to deal with were extremely complicated and numerous. Li Shang was called a governor, but in fact he was a smaller prime minister of the Han Dynasty. It can be said that among all the governors of the Han Dynasty, he was the busiest one.

But since the meeting of wise men, Li Shang, the Minister of Internal Affairs, has not had a good day.

The higher-ups had a one-size-fits-all policy of reducing staff and increasing efficiency. The Prime Minister's Office gave him the Neishi Prefecture and ordered him to reduce official salaries by 25 million coins.

This amount of money is actually not high compared to the taxes paid by the Nei Shi every year, but it is extremely exaggerated to reduce the number of Han officials.

Because the Imperial Capital was the capital, rice was expensive in Chang'an, so the basic salary was relatively high. In addition, Chang'an was the city with the most complete infrastructure in the Han Dynasty. As a result, the salary and benefits of the grassroots officials in Chang'an were unique in the Han Dynasty. Even the most basic officials had their salaries, housing benefits, medical benefits, education salaries, etc. In a year, the cost of a Nei Shi official's labor service was 2 to 3 coins, which was 10 times the income of an ordinary farmer and more than five times the income of an ordinary craftsman.

Reducing the official salary expenditure by 25 million yuan is equivalent to cutting thousands of grassroots officials. When this amount was determined, the entire Neishi Mansion was in an uproar. This is a major case that only occurs when the Supreme Court and the Imperial Censorate work together, and thousands of people will be dismissed at one time.

They, Neishi Prefecture, had violated the law of heaven and suffered such a blow from the imperial court. The imperial court wanted the horse to run, but did not want to give it grass to eat.

When this quota was issued, the entire Nei Shi was filled with complaints. The grassroots officials all started to complain that the Nei Shi Ling Li Shang was incompetent and did not even have the ability to argue for them. They said it was unlucky for them to have such an incompetent governor.

A large number of Han officials at the grassroots level were dissatisfied, and Li Shang was under increasing pressure. However, even under this pressure, he still had to do what he had to do. He divided the quota of thousands of people into two groups: 20 people were to be reduced in each county under the Nei Shi, and 100 people were to be reduced in the Nei Shi Fu Ya. This cut one-eighth of the Nei Shi Fu Ya's staff. At the same time, all the people in the Nei Shi Fu Ya, including himself, had their salaries reduced by one-tenth, barely retaining 80 more people. This was the limit of what Li Shang could do.

However, the reduction of more than 900 people was still a huge disaster for the Han officials of the Nei Shi. The officials who escaped the disaster were secretly glad, but those who were reduced wailed indignantly.

However, the Han officials who were streamlined did not give up. They believed that they had not been corrupt nor violated the laws of the Han Dynasty, and the court could not treat them like this.

They began to lead their families in demonstrations, hanging a banner protesting the injustice of the imperial court, and marching across the main roads of Chang'an City so that everyone in the city could see what was happening.

The gossipers in Chang'an City were all surprised to see this scene.

"In the past, it was the common people who marched and protested against injustice, but now even the Han officials are protesting against it!"

One of the common people sympathized and said, "Has the court gone too far? These Han officials have done a good job. They don't want an economic crisis. Even if they are short of money, they can just reduce their salaries. It's too much to destroy people's jobs."

The simple morality of this era attaches great importance to one's job, and ordinary people think that destroying someone's job is no different from killing someone.

"I thought the court did nothing wrong. If you did well, you would be rewarded. If you did wrong, you would be punished. In the past two years, the economy of the Han Dynasty was good. These Han officials received bonuses, used tax money to build buildings, and also bought new carriages. They also used tax money to feast and drink. Aren't those high-end restaurants in Chang'an owned by these people? They took all the good things. Why didn't they say it was unfair?"

"The court now owes a debt of 40 gold. This debt is not due to their failure to manage the country well. Of course they have to be responsible for repaying this debt. Do we ordinary people have to be responsible for this debt ourselves? This is 100 gold. If it is to be distributed among the people of the world, everyone will have to pay an additional coins in taxes."

As expected, no one can betray the interests of their own class. Once this account was calculated, the people around them no longer sympathized with these Han officials. Sympathizing with them would increase their taxes by hundreds of coins, and the price of this sympathy was too high.

"We have done nothing wrong, the court is unfair!"

"There are many shady dealings in the downsizing. We will report it to the censors and even the emperor!" The demonstrators surrounded the Neishi Yamen and loudly expressed their anger.

Li Shang, who was handling government affairs in the Neishi Mansion, heard the chaotic noise outside and frowned, "What happened? Why is it so noisy?"

Zhang Bo, the chief of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, said with a bitter face: "County Governor, the streamlined Han officials led people to march and demonstrate and surrounded our government office."

Li Shang immediately walked out of the room and heard them say that they were going to file a complaint with the Censorate and the Emperor.

Li Shang shook his head and said, "Don't they know that this is the order from the emperor? Otherwise, we are all colleagues, why would I be so cruel as to expel them from the Neishi Yamen?"

Zhang Bo, the chief secretary, said, "Their behavior is too shameful for our internal affairs office. I will find someone to expel them!"

Li Shang said: "Forget it, they already have resentment in their hearts. If we drive them away again, I am afraid they will really report to the emperor, and then we will lose face."

Li Shang thought for a moment and said, "Go and invite their leader over and tell them that I want to discuss a solution to the problem with them."

Zhang Bo, the chief secretary, said: "Yes!"

Zhang Bo came outside the government office and said in a deep voice, "You were Han officials before, after all. Why are you blocking the government office like scoundrels now?"

"We are too honest, that's why we have even had our rice bowls smashed by you. Now we can't even eat, and you don't even allow us to shout a few words." If Zhang Bo had questioned them in a deep voice like this in the past, many of them would have been terrified, but now those who are barefoot are not afraid of those who wear shoes. They are not even afraid of offending the Minister of Internal Affairs, let alone a Chief Secretary.

Another Han official said: "The emperor also said that he would guarantee the people's right to march and demonstrate. Now we are no longer Han officials. We feel wronged and we must exercise our rights.

Now we have surrounded the Neishi Mansion. Later we will go to the Censor's Mansion to protest and protest. We have not taken bribes or done anything wrong. Why are you driving us away? After going to the Censor's Mansion, we will go to the Yan Palace to file a complaint to the emperor."

"We have worked for the court for so many years, and even if we have not made any contributions, we have worked hard. It is so unfair for the court to treat us like this."

Zhang Bo said angrily: "What are you suing for? The county magistrate is carrying out the will of the emperor. You are trying to say that the emperor is also wrong."

The Han official sneered, "The order issued by the court is correct, but your execution is another matter. Do you dare to guarantee fairness and justice in this streamlining of the chief historians?
Those officials' children usually work for three days and rest for two days, so why don't they do it when it's time to streamline, but instead they want to streamline those of us who work sincerely."

Zhang Bo said: "Who said they don't do anything?"

The Han official taunted, "There are still things in the entire Neishi Mansion that we don't know about. Who are you trying to fool here? Are you trying to fool the people around you? Or the emperor?"

The people around were also excited, there were bigger melons to eat!

Zhang Bo saw this situation and realized that he would lose if he spoke too much, so he said, "The county governor wants to negotiate with you. You should select three representatives to go in."

The Han officials who were demonstrating around discussed with each other for a while and selected three more prestigious Han officials to enter the Neishi Mansion.

The three of them entered the Nei Shi Mansion again with mixed feelings. In the past, they came here to handle government affairs, but this time they became outsiders, and even became one of the government affairs.

When the three entered the room, they saw the Internal Secretary Li Shang.

"Sit down!" Li Shang said as he prepared a cup of tea for each of the three of them.

The three of them looked at each other and sat down.

Li Shang took a sip of tea and said slowly, "The internal affairs of the government are very busy. The three major conferences, the imperial examinations, and the high school entrance examinations every year keep us busy. I am unwilling to reduce the number of your staff."

"But military orders are as strong as mountains. The court has decided that our internal historians must reduce their salaries by 2500 million coins. You also know the internal system of our Han Dynasty. No matter how you make a fuss about this matter, the court will not change this decision."

Jiang Zhi, the leader, said, "If we don't make a fuss, we will definitely have no chance. But if we make a fuss, we might have a chance. I think I have been diligent since I became a Han official. Although I don't have amazing talents, I think I have completed the tasks assigned by the court very well. I think I am better than some of my colleagues." Yin Qun sneered, "Even if I can't become a Han official in the future, I still want to vent my anger and drag some people into it. If they dare to take my place, I won't let them have an easy time."

Li Shang kept touching his forehead with his hand because of a headache. After a long time, he said: "The order of streamlining cannot be changed. The court will never force people into desperate situations. This county governor will also try his best to help you. You are very clear about the court's request for land reclamation."

The three of them nodded. No one knew this matter better than them.

Li Shang said: "The reclamation needs some basic pavilion chiefs and village chiefs. You have worked in Chang'an for many years and are experienced old officials. I can recommend you to the court. In order to appease the anger of the reduction of Han officials, I think the court will not reject my recommendation."

The three of them were a little hesitant. On the one hand, they were reluctant to give up such a good opportunity. On the other hand, they felt that going to the frontier from the imperial capital was equivalent to exile for 3,000 miles. They were a little reluctant to give up their registered permanent residence in the imperial capital. You know, in the imperial capital, education, medical care, and housing are all top-notch in the world.

Li Shang continued, "In order to attract talents to settle in the frontiers, the court has set up preferential policies. As long as the Han officials go to settle in the frontiers, their evaluation will be promoted by two levels. In other words, as long as you complete the most basic government affairs, you can get excellent evaluations. After five years of promotion, you can be promoted from a pavilion chief to a Qiangfu. If you can bear the loneliness, after five years, you can become a county magistrate."

"I can tell you right now that going to the frontier to cultivate the land is the fastest way for our Han Dynasty to advance. It can even change your fate and turn you from a clerk into an official. You should think carefully about it."

Yes, in order to speed up the development of the Han Dynasty’s borders, Xu Fan has provided policy support to the border counties.

The three men looked even more hesitant when they heard this. They all passed the examination to become Han officials a few years ago, and have since become the most basic minor officials in the Han Dynasty. However, the Han Dynasty court has gradually become formalized, and it is no longer possible to get a promotion once a year or even once every six months as before. They have been working as Han officials for several years, but still have not been promoted to the next level.

Compared with their cumbersome government affairs, it can be said that it is extremely uneconomical. Not to mention other places, but in Guanzhong and Chang'an City, it is indeed very difficult for these Han officials to do their jobs. The emperor has put a lot of government affairs that did not originally belong to them on them, such as directing traffic, dealing with trivial conflicts among the people, giving directions to the people and other cumbersome things. It is clearly said from above that they should govern by inaction, but they want to take care of everything.

In addition, the emperor also liked to go on tours, and the local people also liked to complain to the emperor, resulting in them being oppressed from above and squeezed from below. The difficulty of being an official increased dozens of times compared to their ancestors.

But even though it was so hard, they were still reluctant to give up this status. Now they heard that going to the military farm would provide a way to be promoted to officials, which was a shortcut to success for the three of them.

So the three of them went back with this condition, and with such a way out, the morale of the Han officials who had been purged was lost.

He accepted Li Shang's offer and went to the Public Affairs Training College, where he learned how to be a village head or a village chief in the wild.

In other counties and prefectures of the Han Dynasty, there were also many such incidents. Those who could become Han officials could basically be regarded as elites. Their will to resist was stronger than that of ordinary people. Naturally, they could not accept the situation of being kicked out by the court.

Therefore, all kinds of chaotic things happened in the 50 counties of the Han Dynasty. These county magistrates also showed their magical powers. They either recommended people to the military colony government office like Li Shang, or got a letter of recommendation for these Han officials and let them find a new job in the vassal states of the Han Dynasty.

The Han Dynasty's court was also streamlined under the leadership of Prime Minister Xiao He. First, the Chief Censor took action and captured thousands of rats in the Han Dynasty's granary system, recovering a loss of 30,000 gold.

But Xiao He's actions were not over yet. He ordered the nine ministers and each department to break down the tasks layer by layer in proportion, and each government system would have a streamlined quota.

Some departments were making too much noise and some even threatened the court by lying down and refusing to handle government affairs. Xiao He did not tolerate these people. He directly reported to the government office, the court judge, and the chief censor, and formed a joint inspection team to seal the treasury and check the accounts.

Since these Han officials are unwilling to step down voluntarily, they will be cleared out through anti-corruption measures.

The Imperial Household Department was the first to be streamlined. They managed numerous horse farms in the Han Dynasty, raising hundreds of thousands of war horses and hundreds of thousands of oxen. In the entire Han Dynasty official system, the wealth they controlled and the number of Han officials under them were only second to those of the Imperial Household Department.

Regardless of whether it is a war horse or a draft ox, the price is extremely high, especially for a war horse. The price of the same horse may be hundreds of times higher due to the difference in their abilities. The price of an ordinary Fu horse is around 5000 coins, but if it is a war horse that can travel a thousand miles a day and 800 miles at night, there will be rich people willing to buy it even if the price is as high as thousands of coins. This leads to a huge space for internal arbitrage.

If this kind of department doesn't check its accounts, it's all good for you, me and everyone else. But as soon as it checks its accounts, big problems will arise and a large number of people will be implicated.

This time, the three departments jointly conducted an audit and uncovered a corruption case involving more than 2,000 Han officials from the Imperial Household Department.

A small number of Han officials in the entire Taipu Yamen were taken away directly, and the Taipu Yamen was paralyzed for a time. Those who committed serious crimes were hanged, and the rest, along with their families, were all exiled to Southeast Asia.

Chen Gang, the Minister of the Imperial Household, was a veteran of the Han Dynasty, having followed the emperor before the founding of the Han Dynasty. Yet, Prime Minister Xiao He still took a machete and chopped him in half. This was no longer killing the chicken to scare the monkey, but killing the monkey to warn the chicken.

After this incident, the Han officials became much more honest. Even if they were laid off, they could find other things to do in Chang'an City.

But if the court discovered any corruption, the whole family would be exiled overseas.

As a result, the task of streamlining the Han Dynasty was carried out smoothly, and the number of cases in which tens of thousands of people were streamlined in various departments of the Nine Ministers alone exceeded 10,000.

If this happened in the Ming Dynasty, it would be one of the four major cases.

But for the Han Dynasty, it really meant nothing. Although the Han court had always emphasized governing by inaction, it was mainly to prevent Han officials from interfering in the industrial development of the Han Dynasty.

In fact, Xu Fan, influenced by later generations, has been increasing the departments of the Han Dynasty, and the control of the Han Dynasty court has been expanding.

But there are always advantages and disadvantages in this world. Don't the feudal emperors know the benefits of vertical management down to the village? Of course they know, but their finances cannot afford it, so they can only hand over the villages to the gentry and landlords to manage, and their power can only be delegated to the county level to save court expenses.

The central power of the Han Dynasty court continued to expand, and there were more and more government offices directly under it. The current Nine Ministers are still called the Nine Ministers, but in fact it is just a continued name. In fact, the number of government offices at the level of the Nine Ministers of the Han Dynasty has expanded to 16.

Once more yamen offices of this level were added, it would not just be a few Han officials that were added, but a vertical management system from the central government to the local levels, which would require several thousand to tens of thousands of Han officials to govern.

Because of this streamlining, the Han court counted the number of Han officials, which was more than 30. The number of Qin officials at that time was also around this number. It can be said that the Han Dynasty was better than its predecessor. The direct salary expenditure of the Han court exceeded 40 gold each year.

Xu Fan realized that the expansion of Han officials was too rapid, which is why the Han court was so determined to streamline the Han officials this time. If the expansion continues like this, our Han Dynasty will become the impoverished and weak Song Dynasty.

In short, the new born big man's execution ability has not been corrupted, and even such an action with the blade pointing inward can be completed within the tolerance range.

But for Li Shang, the Minister of Internal Affairs, pacifying the streamlined Han officials was only the first of his difficult government affairs this year.

On August 20th of the 13th year of the Han calendar, in Chang'an City, Bashang Steel Industrial Zone.

The Secretary of the Interior Li Shang came here to celebrate the successful ignition of the new 20-jin blast furnace developed by the Bashang Iron and Steel Plant.

Li Shang was extremely surprised when he saw the huge monster which was almost ten feet high. The blast furnaces of the Han Dynasty were getting higher and higher, and the iron smelting capacity was getting stronger and stronger.

Tian An, the master craftsman of the steel plant, said proudly: "The new blast furnace has twice the ironmaking capacity of the previous blast furnace. At the same time, the use of a new steam blower has saved one-third of the time required to produce iron, and one-fifth of the coal used. Now the cost of refining one kilogram of iron in our steel plant is only 5 cents. This year, the Bashang Steel Plant is expected to refine 6000 million kilograms of iron, and the profit of the iron plant can reach 5%."

In recent years, there are more and more steel mills in Dahan, and more and more blast furnaces are built, but the price of steel has not dropped much, and has even risen slowly. This is because in the past two years, Dahan's equipment has begun to be made from steel instead of wood as raw materials, especially with the emergence of steam engines. A steam engine requires hundreds of kilograms of steel, and large steam engines even use thousands of kilograms. The steam industry has driven consumption in the steel industry.

At the same time, the Han Dynasty's large-scale laying of tracks also accelerated the consumption of steel. Although the Han Dynasty does not yet have the ability to lay pure iron tracks, it has begun to use iron-clad wooden tracks. Such tracks can more than double the operating volume and more than triple the durability. After being covered with iron sheets, although the price of wooden tracks has increased by one-fifth, the maintenance cost has been reduced by three times, and the total cost has become even lower.

Therefore, all wooden tracks in the Han Dynasty have now been replaced by iron-clad wooden tracks, with only the areas in the south of the Yangtze River where there is a lot of rain having been reduced. The tracks use a lot of steel, which has led to a huge increase in the demand for steel in the world. Even during the economic crisis, the price of steel has not been affected much.

Li Shang was pleasantly surprised and said, "According to the current price of Dahan steel, your Bashang Steel Plant's annual turnover is 6 million yuan."

Master Craftsman Tian An said: "It's more than 100 million coins. Our Bashang Steel Plant can produce more than 7 million catties of -year-old steel every year, which is more than million coins. Our steel plant's estimated turnover is million coins."

Li Shang gave a thumbs up and said, "Bashang Steel Plant is the best workshop in the world."

It can be said that there is no workshop in the whole Guanzhong that is more important than Bashang Steel Plant. Last year, they paid 6000 million yuan in taxes. This year, with the new blast furnace, the tax will continue to soar. For the current internal historian, there is nothing more important than increasing taxes.

(End of this chapter)