King of Song

Chapter 137 Typical Test Field

"It turns out that the honorable master is the famous Lin Zhao, I really don't know Mount Tai!"

This new champion is quite polite, at least he is not arrogant, his eyes are above the top.And this guy has a pretty good memory, he just met Lin Zhao once in the nunnery outside Yingtian Mansion, and after more than half a year, he can still recognize Lin Zhao at a glance.

Lin Zhao said with a smile, "Where, Your Excellency was named on the gold list, the number one in high school, congratulations!"

"Speaking of which, I would like to thank you for your good words. I am so confident that I am so lucky to concentrate on studying." This is also the reason why he can remember Lin Zhao deeply.

Lin Zhao's memory is already a little fuzzy, but he vaguely remembers that he did say that he was the winner of the gold list and won the top spot!But it was just a casual remark, words like blessings, I didn't expect it to be such a coincidence!
"Hey, it's the result of your own poetry and books. By the way, I don't know what to call you?" Lin Zhao hastily changed the topic. I don't know.

Zhuangyuan Lang patted his head, and suddenly said: "Look at me, I forgot to report my family name, sorry... Xia Cai Jing, the name is long, and I will ask Brother Lin to take care of me in the future!"

"Yuanchang is polite, you and I work together, we must cooperate more in the future!" Lin Zhaochu didn't care about it at the beginning, and was suddenly startled while talking, and said in astonishment: "Your name is Cai Jing?"

The name Cai Jing immediately shocked Lin Zhao!Calligraphy in the Song Dynasty is said to be "Su Huang Mi Cai". Su Shi in front of you, Huang Tingjian who has seen Bian Jing, Mi Fu who has not yet shown up, and Cai Jing in front of you.

These are not the key points, Cai Jing's more famous title is the "Six Thieves" in the late Northern Song Dynasty, and Cai Jing, who lives in the grand master, is the hand of the Six Thieves.To some extent, the Northern Song Dynasty was also buried in the hands of these people.Cai Jing was a well-known treacherous official in history, Lin Zhao was naturally impressed.

At this moment, is this well-mannered new scholar in front of him Cai Jing who led to the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty?
The Jingkang Change occurred in 1127 AD, and the current second year of Xining is 1069 AD.In the Huizong Dynasty before Jingkang, Cai Jing was already old, so it would be about the same...

There are people with the same name and surname, after all, it is very accidental.Cai Jing was able to become a minister of Zaifu in his later years. According to the practice of the Song Dynasty, he must have been a Jinshi.When these factors are added together, it is difficult to have a coincidence, and there should be no mistake.

Cai Jing looked at Lin Zhao in surprise, and asked in confusion, "What? Brother Lin, have you heard of it? Or..."

"Yes!" Lin Zhao said with a sneer: "Just say it, I heard someone say the champion of the new subject before, but today I forgot..."

The shocking secret spontaneously ignites and cannot be revealed. Facing this current promising young man and future treacherous official, Lin Zhao's mood is somewhat complicated.

However, the trajectory of history has changed. Originally, the imperial examination was held in Xining for four years, but now it has been advanced to Xining for three years.Cai Jing's original position was originally Qiantang Wei, but because of an early rebellion, he directly served as the magistrate of Yuhang County.Because of Lin Zhao's participation, the historical trajectory is quietly changing, so what about Cai Jing's personal development trajectory?Will there be some changes?

Subtly increase the influence, or carefully train, can the treacherous minister become a pillar of loyalty to the emperor and serve the country?Lin Zhao was thinking, should I try something?
Although Wanyan Daguda no longer exists and Jurchen may not rise, Lin Zhao is still worried. After all, history is accidental, but it is more inevitable.

The appearance of Cai Jing made Lin Zhao feel a sense of urgency.In the original history, the subjugation of the Northern Song Dynasty was only a matter of Jiazi, but the factors and characters that led to the tragedy of Jingkang began to appear from this moment.

Change, must be changed, the idea in my heart is getting stronger and stronger!
Now that Wang Anshi has become a political adviser, the reform provisions are being drafted, and it won't be long before they can be implemented.

Lin Zhao is full of expectations for this.

In this regard, Cai Jing can be regarded as like-minded.He is a supporter of Wang Anshi and a supporter of the new law.In the fierce party government in the later Song Dynasty, whenever the old party came to power, all the new laws were abolished, and when Cai Jing came to power, the new laws were immediately restored.These are things for later, but at least for now, they can get along well and even cooperate with each other.

Emperor Zhao Xu sent Cai Jing to Hangzhou, and he probably didn't have such thoughts.Cooperating with Lin Zhao is one aspect, and more importantly, it is also a kind of experience.In other words, Cai Jing is also the person Zhao Xu is looking at, and he is going to be cultivated as a confidant, and the county magistrate of Yuhang is just the beginning.

Regarding Lin Zhao's explanation, Cai Jing was skeptical, but he didn't want to ask too many questions, and said with a smile: "We will work together in Hangzhou in the future, please take care of Brother Lin."

"sure!"

The two exchanged pleasantries again, and gradually became familiar with each other.Although Cai Jing is the No. [-] scholar and a man of great talent and learning, he still behaves very low-key in Hangzhou.

Because the two people in front of him are not the same, Su Shi is a well-known talent throughout the country, and his own weight is far behind him, so there is still some self-knowledge.

As for Lin Zhao, although he was not from a serious imperial examination background, he dare not underestimate him.Lin Zhao's few poems and works have been circulated, and his literary talent is no better than that of Jinshi who jumped over the dragon's gate.Cai Jing himself was a little ashamed of himself, far inferior, so he didn't dare to be careless.Now that he can do it well, the only thing that can completely beat Lin Zhao is calligraphy.

The most important thing is Lin Zhao's outstanding ability. It has been a good story to solve the strange case in Bianjing and to go to Liao as an envoy.The big commotion in Hangzhou this time alone has shocked the whole court, which is enough to prove that Lin Zhao's ability is extraordinary.Coming from Bianjing, Cai Jing knew very well that the official Zhao Xu and the prime minister Wang Anshi favored Lin Zhao.

Cai Jing is the great-grandson of Cai Xiang, a famous calligrapher. After a famous family, he was born in a scholarly family and a family of officials. Although he is young, he knows all the ways in the officialdom.This is an innate talent or advantage. It can be seen from this that it is not accidental that Cai Jing is in the officialdom of the Song Dynasty like a fish in water, and his way to the top is not accidental.

Lin Zhao thought at first that he was just meeting Cai Jing, but Su Shi said, "Dongyang and Yuan Chang are old, so it would be best to get to know each other well! The new Zhizhou Zhao has arrived, so let's meet up later and have dinner together!" "

Has the new prefect Zhao Bian arrived?
Before that, Lin Zhao didn't know the name of this not very famous elder.It was only a few days ago that I got to know him a little bit. I only knew that this old man was known for his uprightness. After Bao Zheng died, he was a model.What worries Lin Zhao is that although Zhao Bian is not a member of the old party, he is relatively conservative. Don't be like Sima Guang or Zheng Xie.The only hope now is that Master Zhao Bian will not be too stubborn...

Entering the inner hall, an old man came out. He seemed dignified, but he was also approachable, or rather kind.

"Zizhan, Yuanchang!" Zhao Bian knew Su Shi at first, and Cai Jing came to Hangzhou with him.When his eyes fell on Lin Zhao's face, he smiled and said, "Surely this is Lin Dongyang who the officials are full of praise for?"

"Lin Zhao met the boss!" No matter what, Zhao Yan was highly respected, so naturally he had to respect him more.

"Sure enough, young and promising!" Zhao Bian looked at Lin Zhao and commented.

Lin Zhao couldn't help being surprised that this Zhao Zhizhou seemed to be very interested in him.

"Let the old man laugh!"

"There is no need to be modest, the things in Hangzhou are obvious to all, and everyone knows it in their hearts!" Zhao Jian praised Lin Zhaoduo, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.This is unexpected, I didn't expect how easy this Zhao Zhizhou gets along with, it seems that the future life will be easier.

Zhao Bian said again: "However, the matter is over. The officials have promoted you to be the magistrate of Qiantang County. If you are in charge of the government, you should pay more attention and be diligent in the king's affairs." Even so, it is very simple It's a scene, but Zhao Zhizhou looked at Lin Zhao with unusual devotion and attention!
"Yes!" Lin Zhao didn't care, and immediately agreed!

But what to do next?

The situation in Hangzhou has stabilized, and the rebellion and rebellion have caused too much damage and loss. Basically, everything is done step by step, just proceed as usual.If there is anything real, it is the implementation of the Reform and New Deal.

In August of the second year of Xining, the Green Seedling Method, the first bullet of the reform that attracted much attention, came out after a long-awaited, and finally came out.

The young crop method is also known as "Chang Ping Concentration Method" and "Chang Ping Convergence and Dissipation Method".In the early Song Dynasty, Changping was established in various places.Huimin and other warehouses, "to adjust the shortage of food when the people's grain harvest failed, but the effect was not great.

Now, Wang Anshi's reforms, "Song History.Shihuozhi [-]": "To put money for young crops today, if you borrow ten thousand in spring, you will get two thousand in profit within half a year, and another ten thousand in autumn, and you will get another two thousand in profit at the end of the year."

In layman's terms, at that time, the Regulatory Department of the Third Department of System and Regulations, which presided over the reform, promulgated the Green Crop Law, stipulating that all households in Fanzhou and counties could borrow cash or grain from the local government to subsidize farming before the two harvests in summer and autumn every year.The borrowers are rich and poor, and ten people are the guarantees, checking each other.The loan amount is divided into five grades according to the assets of each household. The first grade households can borrow [-] credits each time, and the lowest grade households can borrow [-] credits each time.The loan in the current year will be repaid with the Spring and Autumn Taxes, and the interest will be [-] cents per installment.

Wang Anshi's original intention was good, because land annexation was very serious in the middle of the Northern Song Dynasty.One of the very common patterns is that ordinary people need a lot of money because of bad harvests or unexpected events at home.As a last resort, the land was mortgaged to landlords or wealthy households.But after the loan period has come, but can not repay the loan, so helpless, had to transfer the land ownership.

As a result, more and more farmers lost their land.And the land began to be concentrated in the hands of a few people, especially the increasing number of big landlords with a large number of apprentices. This was an inevitable problem in feudal society - land annexation.

It is important to know that agricultural taxes in ancient times mainly came from self-cultivating farmers. When more and more self-cultivating farmers lost their land, the country’s tax sources will decrease, and fiscal revenue will also decline.In this way, the decline of national power is inevitable.

Farmers who lose their land may become tenants, and life may become more difficult. Over time, conflicts will become more likely.Once these people cannot live on and leave the land to wander outside, it will become a factor of social instability.Affecting the stability of the dynasty, especially the frequent occurrence of natural and man-made disasters in ancient times, made this model even more fragile.

The reason why the problem of redundant soldiers in the Song Dynasty was so serious is that whenever a famine occurred, soldiers began to be recruited from refugees.Judging from the military system of the Northern Song Dynasty, there could only be rebellious civilians, not rebellious troops.Although this alleviates some problems to a certain extent, it is also drinking poison to quench thirst.

The current problem is very serious. Zhao Xu is aware of the crisis of the Northern Song Dynasty, and the reason why Wang Anshi's reform was launched is for this purpose.

As for the reform idea given by Wang Anshi, the initial starting point is the young crop method.Wang Anshi and others believe that after the implementation of the Green Crop Law, the lender has changed from a landlord to an imperial court, and the loan interest rate can also be controlled.

It reduces the exploitation of farmers by landlords, and can restrain land mergers to a certain extent.Moreover, this part of the young crop money can also help the people overcome the difficulties of the outage, which is very helpful for the society to win the championship.In the case of stabilizing tax sources, the imperial court can also use the interest of the Green Crop Law to increase part of its income.

This can be said to be a guiding principle of Wang Anshi's reform, which is to increase national income.This is why Wang Yu asked Lin Zhao the question of hiding wealth from the people and hiding wealth from the country.

This is Wang Anshi's idea!

However, conservative officials headed by Sima Guang opposed this, and there was another fierce debate in the court.Conservative scholar-bureaucrats believed that how could the imperial court compete with the people for profit and calculate the profit of goods everywhere.He is quite disdainful of this kind of behavior that the country collects interest money from the people. One of the famous representative tasks is Ouyang Xiu.

Some people even deliberately confuse the audition, secretly change the concept, and constantly attack the young crop method.Fan Zhen, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, and Zhao Zhan, a doctor of the ancestral hall, said in a memorial to Song Shenzong: "The method of Changping (cang) is a granary that has been used by the state to accumulate grain for shortages and to adjust grain prices since the Western Han Dynasty. The rich and the lowly send their hair back (letting and harvesting) so that the end of the peasantry is the most recent and cannot be changed. And the young crops started in the decline of the Tang Dynasty, which is not lawful. And your majesty is rich and the people take more and take less. This is a hundred steps, fifty steps Between the ears. Today, two people are trading in the market, and one person lowers (reduces) its value (price) to compete with each other, and everyone knows it. Can the market be evil if it can be extended?"

During the Tang Dynasty, they collected taxes in advance, which were called Qingmiao money at that time, before the grains matured. They were compared with Wang Anshi's Qingmiao to criticize.

Of course, not everyone is as messy as they are.Su Zhe, who was in charge of reviewing the text in the Department of Regulations of the Third Division of the System, put forward his opinions.He personally participated in the drafting of the entire Young Crop Law. He raised three issues: First, officials made troubles in it, such as fan raising interest and receiving benefits.Second, there is no guarantee that the people who get the money will use the money, and the people who want to use the money will get the money.Third, and the most serious problem, what should I do if I cannot repay the principal and interest on time?
Because of this, Su Zhe even left the Department of Regulations and Regulations of the Three Divisions, and changed from a supporter of the reform to an opponent of the reform. This was undoubtedly a blow to the reform that had just started.

Regarding these issues, Wang Anshi has his own views and responds to them one by one.As for some problems, he didn't think what would happen.In addition, there are many unreasonable and blind opposition, which makes the stubborn Xianggong even more persistent and doesn't take it seriously.

However, how to implement this young crop law must be carefully considered!
Emperor Zhao Xu said: "Jiefu, I thought, why not select a few states and roads for trial implementation, check its advantages and disadvantages, and then promote it throughout the country?"

Seeing that the officials seemed to be restless and their determination was not firm, although Wang Anshi did not want to see such a situation, there was nothing he could do about it.Since the official proposed this, let's try it first, and he is very confident about it.

"Your Majesty's suggestion is very good, let's try it out first!"

Zhao Xu nodded and said: "Well, let's carry out the experiment on Jingdong Road, Henan Road, and Huainan Road!"

Experimenting in three areas, the effect can be seen very clearly, Wang Anshi nodded and said: "Well, that's very good!"

Zhao Xu could also see Wang Anshi's thoughts, and said, "Jiefu doesn't need to care. Haven't there been fewer debates in the court for more than a year? Many people who do nothing are just inexplicable nonsense! I need you, I need you Presiding over the reform plan, I need your help to realize the great ambition of making the country rich and the army strong!"

These words are from the heart of Jun Anchen, and Wang Anshi knows it well, and the truth is that the king has no jokes.It is very rare for an emperor to be able to say this.The kindness of knowledge and encounter must be repaid generously!

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will do my best and go all out!" Wang Anshi's words are by no means empty words. In the next few years, he will use his own actions to fulfill this promise.

Emperor Zhao Xu nodded and said: "I know...Jiefu, I suddenly have an idea. In addition to the above three ways, can there be another place for the implementation of the Green Crop Law?"

"I don't know where His Majesty intends to implement it?" Wang Anshi was still a little curious about this.

Zhao Xu smiled lightly and said, "Hangzhou, to be precise, it is Qiantang and Yuhang counties!"

"Your Majesty means..." Wang Anshi was slightly taken aback, and immediately understood that the official's intention was this way.

"Dongyang has strong abilities and a quick mind. As for Cai Jing, he is quite talented, has a heart for change, and has a lot of insight into reforms and reforms. This is why I selected him as the champion." Zhao Xu said: "The two of them are young and aggressive. , is capable, and I believe it will achieve some results. With Zhao Yan and Su Shi watching over there, there will be no troubles, and once the results are achieved, it will be very convincing."

Wang Anshi knows what the officials want to do!This is to find a special test field, and I want to set a model!It seems that the official Lin Zhao and Cai Jing's expectations are not usually high!They have full confidence in the reform itself, and there is no doubt about these two people. Wang Anshi is full of confidence in this.

Lin Zhao, who was far away in Hangzhou, did not know that he had already taken the lead in participating in the reform.But for him, this is also the first time for him to personally experience Wang Anshi's reform. The advantages and disadvantages, the merits and demerits will have their own experience.

Although Zhao Xu and Wang Anshi are full of expectations for this typical experimental field, will they definitely get what they want?Everything remains to be seen!

(End of this chapter)