The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

"From the point of view of the food reduction order, there is nothing wrong with it. In a famine year, one should be thrifty and save food. Even in a bumper harvest year, the grassroots believe that they should maintain a sense of danger in times of peace and actively stockpile food for preparations for war. This should be a basic national policy. "

Yan Shu frowned and said, "Since that's the case, why do you say that this move is absurd? Hey, you are still a little tender."

Su Jinchao Yan Shu cupped his hands and saluted, "Master Yan, what I said today is purely from the bottom of my heart, without any sense of disrespect. Just now I saw that the lotus seed and lily soup that the emperor drank was only three or two lotus seeds and two or three pieces of lilies. I am really touched, the fist of the holy will is purely for the sake of the country, how can it not be respected."

Zhao Zhen's expression turned slightly pale, and he said softly: "I was entrusted by the late emperor to take over our Great Song Dynasty. Thousands of miles of fertile land and thousands of people need the protection of the imperial court. Naturally, I dare not take it lightly. A little bit of suffering is nothing. "

Su Jin's face was moved, and he said seriously: "The emperor has good intentions, but good intentions may also lead to bad things."

Just as Yan Shu was about to be reprimanded, Zhao Zhen stretched out his hand to stop him and said, "Let him continue, I haven't heard the truth for a long time."

Su Jin bowed to thank him, and at the same time cast an apologetic look at Yan Shu and said, "My lord, I am not trying to tear you down. Since my lord recommends me, and the emperor asked about this matter again, how dare you hold back. Today, I will put you in my belly." It is not too late for the Emperor and Lord Yan to evaluate and punish the grassroots after listening to what is right or wrong."

Yan Shu sighed, and looked at Su Jin with 'resentment', saying that there was nothing more to say for this sake.

"Your Majesty, Lord Yan, the thrift mentioned by the grassroots is not the food reduction order. Food is the most important thing for the people. Since the Li and Tang Dynasties, more than 100 years have passed, and the common people have been used to three meals a day, even if it is vegetables, tofu, As long as the pickled vegetables can be mixed with a full stomach of food, it is safe and happy, but now suddenly only two meals are allowed, and the habit is hard to change. Hunger is real, not to mention, since the order of reducing meals was issued, the grass people In order to be considerate of the sufferings of the imperial court, I only eat twice a day, morning and evening. I used to have enough food and clothing, but today I am always hungry.

Zhao Zhen and Yan Shu were silent. They actually felt the same way. Not having enough food always makes people feel a sense of frustration, as if everything they do is meaningless.

"Grass people are common people. I believe that most people in the world have the feelings of grass people. There is nothing wrong with being frugal, but it is often difficult to grasp the 'degree' between this relaxation. It is either mere formality or overcorrection. This reduction The meal order is a collection of these two, which is both a formality and an overkill.”

Zhao Zhen probed his head and said, "How do you say that?"

Su Jin said: "Since there are decrees to be promulgated, there must be supporting supervision, reward and punishment measures, and special personnel to supervise and implement them. Are there any of these? If there are none, it depends on self-awareness. Is there anything in the world? Can it be accomplished by self-consciousness? Everyone yearns for the Peach Blossom Spring, and the road is not picked up and the door is not closed at night, but has anyone seen it? Tao Qian’s "Peach Blossom Spring" was not even able to find the road in the end? This shows that this idealized society only exists in the ethereal Among them, or not at all in reality, but the emperor can send someone to look outside, the restaurant is still open for three meals, and the people’s homes are still three meals a day, even my driver will run to the street at noon What's the point of such a meal reduction order after buying a dozen buns and eating them happily?"

Zhao Zhen asked thoughtfully, "The reason why I didn't enforce it is because I didn't want to force the public's opinion. I expected this a long time ago."

Su Jindao: "I understand what the emperor means, saving a little bit is a little bit, as long as it can alleviate even a little bit of crisis, it is good; but the imperial court's precious and important order to reduce food has such a result, isn't it harmful?" Does the prestige of the emperor damage the majesty of the court?"

Zhao Zhen said: "You mean that there must be supporting actions, and those who cannot be consciously executed should be enforced?"

Su Jin shook his head and said, "No, what Caomin means is that the meal reduction order should be abolished."

Zhao Zhen opened his eyes wide and said: "Repeal? Absolutely not, how can it be abolished before the deadline? This move will also damage the court's prestige."

Su Jin said: "This is what I said was overcorrecting. What I said just now was a phenomenon. Now the grass-roots people are telling the emperor what the biggest drawback of the meal reduction order is. This is also the main reason why the grass-people suggested that this edict be abolished."

Zhao Zhen couldn't stop listening, so he nodded and said, "Sit down and talk, what I heard you said makes sense."

Su Jin Xie En sat down and continued: "Your Majesty, the timing of the meal reduction order is really a failure. If it were an ordinary year, the Emperor would carry out a one-month meal reduction activity every year to promote frugality. On the contrary, the effect would be more novel and better, but At this time, something is wrong."

Zhao Zhen shook his head and said: "In this famine year, how can you say that the timing is not good, it is just the right time."

Su Jin said: "Your Majesty, don't blame Caomin for saying that this is definitely the worst time. There are two disadvantages. Let's try to analyze one or two for the Emperor."

Zhao Zhen smiled and said, "Let's talk about it. If you make a mistake, you are not guilty."

Su Jin said: "Thank you, Your Majesty. Leaving aside the minor disadvantages, there are two major disadvantages. These two disadvantages may shake the country."

Yan Shu couldn't help but said, "Hugh is so sensational, what are you doing with such exaggerated words?"

Su Jin smiled and said: "Master Yan, don't be upset, let me tell you. The two major drawbacks are external troubles, and internal troubles. The situation is not optimistic; the so-called foreign troubles are the war in the northwest. Caomin is one person, but he always cares about the honor and disgrace of the Song Dynasty. The Northwest Yuanhao Army and our army have confronted each other for four years. Until now, the fighting between the two sides has subsided. Added a fire to the calm."

Zhao Zhen asked in surprise, "How do you say that?"

Su Jin said: "Does the emperor's imperial edict say that the order to reduce meals is to promote frugality?"

Zhao Zhen said: "Exactly."

Su Jin said: "Even I can guess that it's an excuse for the emptiness of food. I don't know if the thief leader Yuan Hao can guess it?"

Zhao Zhen suddenly realized, and Yan Shu also understood what Su Jin meant. As soon as the meal reduction order came out, he told Yuan Hao that the Song Dynasty was short of food; if the army was short of food and why were they talking about fighting, Yuan Hao would definitely take the opportunity to attack. get up.

Zhao Zhen said with a touch of luck: "But the situation in the northwest is stable, and there hasn't been any major war."

Yan Shu frowned and said, "Your Majesty, Yuan Hao is waiting for time. If I were Yuan Hao, I would have to wait until my opponent was hungry and cold. How could I do it in such a hurry? When it snows heavily in winter and I don't have enough food, then It's the best time."

Cold sweat dripped down Zhao Zhen's forehead, and he realized the seriousness of the problem; he couldn't expect that Yuan Hao would not figure out the lack of food in Song Dynasty, he was gambling, and once he lost the bet, the situation would be changed. It must be bad.

Yan Shu said softly: "Your Majesty, don't be in a hurry. We still have time. Yuan Hao's army will not come to invade for a while. Han and Fan are at the border. As long as the army supplies are sufficient, everything will be fine."

Zhao Zhen looked at Su Jin and said, "What about internal worries? What do you mean by internal worries?"

Su Jindao: "Your Majesty, the internal worry is the civil uprising, and the food reduction order is not issued. The people's hearts are still stable, because even in the year of famine, the imperial court will provide relief to the victims. I believe there are precedents for this, so although there is hunger and cold, it will not lead to civil uprising. ; but this order is tantamount to telling the people that there is not much food in the official warehouse, and that once the people are desperate, they can do anything; It happened, and there was a lot of trouble. It can't be solved by killing a few people who took the lead in making trouble. This kind of thing is like a flame on the wasteland. The solution is that internal troubles outweigh external troubles.”

Zhao Zhen slumped into the chair, his face complexion was extremely ugly, as the master of this land, he made such a big mistake in making a major decision, why didn't he feel depressed, decadent and worried.

Yan Shu was also sweating profusely. It's not that he hadn't thought about this matter, but he didn't pay attention to it. Su Jin was so broken that he was really scared.

"Su Jin, how do you think this matter in Yangzhou should be handled?"

Zhao Zhen was ill and went to the doctor in a hurry, and he had forgotten that the person standing in front of him was a 16-year-old boy. It was really unreasonable for him to ask such a major national event.

Su Jin said calmly: "Your Majesty, this matter is very simple, just one word: grain. As long as the grain is transported to Yangzhou immediately, the market price will be stabilized, the grain market will be stabilized, and the chaos will disappear."

Zhao Zhen spread his hands and said, "There is a shortage of food everywhere, so where can we get food relief?"

Su Jin smiled and said: "Your Majesty, have you forgotten why you asked Cao Min to come to the capital to see you?"

Zhao Zhen patted his forehead and laughed at himself: "If you care about it, you will be chaotic. See, I have forgotten the purpose of calling you here. What can you do to deal with it? Tell me quickly."