The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

"The imperial court's countermeasures are actually very simple. The emperor will immediately discuss with the two governments and the three divisions, and plans to issue a strict decree to order that within one month, merchants and gentry families with more than [-] shi in grain storage will voluntarily hand over the grain at the official price. For official warehouses, those who fail to pay within the time limit will be inspected and dealt with by the Ministry of Finance. At this time, heavy codes must be used to force them, otherwise there will be no good results.”

Su Jin frowned and asked, "Is there anything else?"

Yan Shu said: "Order the head of the local officials to personally supervise the matter, cooperate with the third department and the grain envoy to carry out surprise inspections of the homes of giant merchants and big merchants, and severely punish those who fail to comply with the imperial court's orders within the time limit, so as to completely crack down on hoarding."

Su Jin said: "Isn't this the same as before?"

Yan Shu said, "What? Isn't that enough?"

Su Jin's face was extremely ugly, and he said lightly: "I'm sorry to say it bluntly, it's no wonder that this method can make a name for itself. It is not ruled out that some timid people will hand over the food stored at home, but I'm afraid it will have little effect. .”

Zhao Zhendao: "Fan Yong, the official envoy of the third division of Tiansheng in the second year of Tiansheng, also wrote a letter about this matter. In that year, I also issued an edict to do so, and the hoarding trend stopped. This method has worked. This time it is just a use Just use it again, does Su Jin think this method won’t work?”

Su Jindao: "Your Majesty, the grassroots don't know what happened in the second year of Tiansheng. As far as I know, the emperor has rectified the hoarding several times since he took the throne. The grassroots have read the records of the three divisions, probably no less than four times, but why? It has been repeatedly prohibited, and the more it is prohibited, the more it is enforced, the more rampant it is? Why is this? I don’t know if the emperor has thought about it.”

Zhao Zhen thought about it and said: "The country is so difficult, and the constant fear of floods and droughts is one of the major reasons. If the fertile fields in the Song Dynasty are all over the place and the weather is good, I can't help but let go of these things."

Su Jindao: "The emperor is right. Frequent famines are the incentives, but businessmen seek profit, and the collusion between government and businessmen is the key to this matter. The grassroots think that food affairs are like wars, and they also pay attention to the right time and place. Changes, and the location is governing, sharpening the knife does not make mistakes in cutting firewood. I don’t know whether the local government and the court have invested in water conservancy measures in the grain-producing areas. The lakes and rivers in Jiangsu and Zhejiang are crisscrossed. It is understandable, but if it is said that the drought caused a large-scale reduction in grain production, it can only be regarded as a joke."

Yan Shu said with a sullen face, "The use of water conservancy has long been blocked in the local area. How can you say that the imperial court has not invested in this?"

Su Jin smiled and said: "My lord, calm down. Since the imperial court has allocated special funds for water conservancy, it is a matter of harmony between people; businessmen are desperate to seek profits, and whether officials have used the money for water conservancy to do other things, or even pretend to be themselves?" pockets, and whether there is any ulterior alliance collusion between the government and businessmen, these are all things that need to be clarified. The right time, place and people are harmonious, and if any link is not done well, this matter will be endless and never peaceful, don't talk about it It is useless to strictly ban four times even ten times or eight times."

Zhao Zhen's complexion was extremely ugly. As an emperor, he didn't know that these things really existed. It's just that such things were so intricate and involved that he wanted to do it but was unable to do it. It didn't happen. Occasionally, corruption cases broke out among officials, and most of them involved matters such as grain, cotton, salt and iron. However, he was just a pocketbook, unable and unwilling to do these things.

Su Jin said: "These things are too complicated. The grassroots know that it will not be achieved overnight, but there is one thing, water conservancy must be taken care of. Ditch digging is very useful for drainage and drought relief. In places where water is scarce, reservoirs must be dug to retain the surplus. If the rain is abundant, it will be retained, and in the year of severe drought, it can be irrigated, so that manpower can be used regardless of the time of day, and the loss caused by the time of day can be reduced.”

Zhao Zhen clapped his hands and said: "Su Jin has the talent to help the country. Although these things are commonplace, it really takes some insights to outline and find out the key points. But in terms of the current situation, how do you need the court to help? Water conservancy matters But that's for later."

Su Jindao: "The effect of blindly strict coercion is not necessarily good. Most of those who dare to hoard food must have already thought of countermeasures or retreat. If the imperial decree is issued, let alone food, they may not even be able to find their warehouses; as long as there is a way to get it News, things are done cleanly, even if you know that he must stockpile food, you will never get a handle."

"Then keep an eye on him so that he doesn't dare to sell the grain. During the famine, he will take them when he sells the grain." Yan Shu said viciously.

Su Jin didn't know whether to laugh or cry, what kind of brains is this Yan Shu, why he keeps saying these nonsensical things today.

"In that case, not to mention the labor cost, how will we achieve our goal? The grain cannot be harvested, the army in the Northwest will run out of food, and the refugees will make chaos everywhere. It will not end by then." Su Jin said softly in a flat tone, avoiding giving Yan Shu too much attention Embarrassed.

Yan Shu's face flushed, and he felt that he had slipped his words. Today, he was a little dazed by Su Jin's anger, and he didn't think carefully about such a simple matter.

"I know my lord said this on purpose to see my reaction, but don't worry, my lord. Although I am young, it doesn't mean I am stupid. Some things can be understood without being reminded by an adult." Su Jin gently gave A ladder was placed under Yan Shu's feet, allowing him to step down safely.

Yan Shu stepped down from the donkey, smiled happily and said, "Yes, the old man saw you right, tell me what you want the court to do."

Su Jin smiled and said: "The grassroots are talking nonsense, and the emperor and Lord Yan ignore the mistakes."

Zhao Zhen and Yan Shu thought to themselves: "Aren't you talking nonsense today? It's just that you are extremely polite at this time."

"Caomin divides this matter into two stages, which can be called the ceremony first and the army later, or one light and one dark; first ask the emperor to make an order to buy the hoarded grain at a price [-]% higher than the market price, and at the same time let out a rumor to announce the purchase period, after that After this deadline, the purchase price will be the official price. The official price should be set so low that it is unbearable. "

"This part needs to be known to everyone. The imperial court ordered the government at all levels to issue notices, and every day they beat gongs and drums to recite the notices in towns and villages, creating a big fanfare; in this way, at least a small number of people could not bear the pressure to sell grain to the officials. Every merchant who voluntarily sells will be rewarded by the imperial court. You can give imperial pens and plaques, you can give you the number of scholars, and you can give them official titles. In this way, it will inevitably arouse the emotions of many people; the grassroots believe that on the one hand, it is the reward from the court and the profitable situation that is [-]% higher than the market price; There will be a lot of people making smart choices."

Yan Shu slapped his thigh and said, "It's yours. It's a two-pronged approach, starting with people's hearts. This is a tricky move."

Zhao Zhenxi said: "It's a good idea, but I'm a little worried that the imperial court has so much money to buy food in a big way? The market price has always been high, and there is no money in the treasury. How to cash it?"

Su Jin waved his hand and said: "It's easy to handle, give half of it, and IOUs for the rest."

Zhao Zhen said in amazement: "Is this possible?"

Su Jin said: "Why not? Can the imperial court pay back the money owed? If the emperor is upset and all taxes will be increased by [-]% next year, everyone will be out of luck; no one will speak if they are frightened, but this IOU must be issued by the third department, and Master Yan will affix a big seal, so that no one will be worried."

Yan Shu rolled his eyes and muttered in a low voice: "It should be the emperor's signature and seal. This country belongs to the emperor."

Zhao Zhen laughed and said, "Yan Aiqing, I have wronged you. Isn't the money owed by the third division the money I owe? I won't renege on my debt."

Yan Shu looked at Su Jin, wishing he could go up and strangle this white-faced boy to death.

"What should I do next? There must be many people who are stubborn, and the court's rewards are no better than a mountain of money." Zhao Zhen said.

Su Jin said: "The next thing will come in secret, and the rest are old fritters. I have seen a lot of strong winds and waves. I will ignore these actions of the court; don't be polite to them. This part of the matter The grassroots will do it secretly, and the specific situation depends on the specific situation, and it is necessary to play tricks and tricks with them, or even meet with them."

Zhao Zhen said: "You should be careful in your actions, and don't make troubles all over the city, otherwise I won't be able to protect you."

Su Jin smiled and said: "Don't worry, everything will be done according to the law, but the court still needs to give me convenience."

Zhao Zhen said: "Tell me, what do you need?"

"First, I want to ask the emperor for some of the imperial guards of the capital to take with me. I can have a general lead the army, but I have to listen to my deployment."

"I give you the right to mobilize a hundred armies. You can just go to the local area. Why do you need the imperial guards?"

Su Jin said: "Xiang Bing? It's better not to, the local Xiang Bing will listen to me? Even if they listen, it's a sham. If there are a few people here to inform me, what else do I do with this errand?"

"At the end of the day, you don't trust the local officials."

"Of course I don't believe it. There are definitely people who assist openly and hinder secretly. If the emperor thinks this is inappropriate, then he will give up."

Zhao Zhen looked at Yan Shu, Yan Shu nodded slightly, Zhao Zhen turned to Su Jin and said, "I agree with this one."