The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

"The second thing the grass-roots asked for was to ask the emperor to issue a road closure order. All official roads in all places where vehicles and horses can pass must be blocked, and special personnel who are not subject to local restraints should be sent to inspect. Only the roads shown by the official local state capital can pass."

Zhao Zhen said: "Why is this? Isn't it panicking in this way?"

Su Jindao: "It has to be like this. This is to prevent the transfer and hiding of grain. The grassroots will have a series of means to make the hidden grain appear. But if there is no road card, the grain will flow to other state capitals. , and sell it at a good price, wouldn’t it be cheaper for those people?”

Yan Shu said: "Since you are afraid of collusion between officials and businessmen, why do you want the road signs from the local government?"

Su Jin smiled and said: "If such a commotion breaks out, the city will be full of wind and rain. Ninety percent of the state officials who dare to issue roads for food at this moment must have gained benefits or occupied shares. The roads are their urging signs." .”

Zhao Zhen said: "I also complied with this one. This time, I don't need other people. I will transfer [-] soldiers from the capital to the various states for business. Any food that has been transshipped privately will be taken into custody. Du Yan will supervise it personally."

Yan Shu's face twitched, and he wanted to say something but held back his mouth.

"The third request, please allow grassroots people the right to request distribution of the purchased grain."

Yan Shu frowned and said, "Are you trying to use food as a means to attack money dealers?"

Su Jin said: "Exactly, it is not intimidation and force that work at the critical moment, but these unspeakable food, where they are, they will be safe, and their effect is even better than any means."

Yan Shu said: "But I'm afraid it's a bit difficult. Food needs to be distributed to various places at any time, and military food relief must be used. I'm afraid you can't just move it here and there."

Su Jin said: "I don't want all of them, but only a part of them. At most, I can transfer 200 million shi at a time, and all of them follow the procedures. After the allocation, the money will be returned to the national treasury. I won't get a single cent of it into my pocket."

Yan Shu looked at Zhao Zhen, and Zhao Zhen gritted his teeth and said, "As long as we can get through the current crisis, this one can be dealt with."

Su Jin grinned, Zhao Zhen looked at Su Jin seriously and said: "I have given you full rights this time, if you fail to handle this matter, it will delay the big event, and then you will have no excuses."

Su Jin broke his heart and said: "Your Majesty, if Su Jin manages to mess up this matter, you will cut off my head and put all the blame on me. As long as the Emperor makes up his mind, the grassroots people have the confidence to take this matter to rest." do it."

Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "Very good, I am waiting for your good news. I will give you a gold medal. With this gold medal, you can travel freely all over the world. When the government officials of all states see the gold medal, they will feel like I am here in person, but you can't show it off until the critical time." Don't take it out, and you can only use it once. If you abuse it at will, I will never forgive you. If you have no other requirements, go back and wait for the will. I have something to discuss with a few lovers. You also go back and settle down. If you talk, you have to leave .”

Su Jin hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, Cao Min has one more request."

Zhao Zhen said: "Oh? What request?"

Su Jin said: "If this matter is accomplished, what reward will the emperor give me?"

Zhao Zhen pondered for a while and said: "If you accomplish this great event, I will bestow upon you an official title, make you a real official, and reward you heavily."

Su Jin smiled and said: "I'm not interested in this. I can take the imperial examination as an official. Rewarding money and things is of little significance to the grassroots. There are still a few sons in the grassland family. You don't have to worry about food, drink and clothing." At that time, please ask the emperor to complete it. "

Yan Shu looked at Su Jin with puffy eyes. This kid is really hopeless. He just wanted to get his darling Yan Biyun. Tuo, he was sincere to Yan Biyun, and he didn't even want an official position for her, it was unimaginable, this is probably very few men in this world who would make such a big sacrifice for a woman. < The beauty of people is what I like to do the most. Whose girl have you taken a fancy to?After you finish the errand, I will protect you as a great matchmaker. "

Su Jin said happily: "You are not joking."

Zhao Zhen pointed at Su Jin and laughed loudly: "It's my fault."

……

Su Jin came out of the palace and quickly found Yan Biyun. After telling the story, Yan Biyun was overjoyed, but at the same time very moved. She was happy because of Su Jin's last request. Although the emperor didn't know whose family Su Jin was referring to, but Now that Chrysostom opens, he will not be able to regret it at that time; what is touched is that Su Jin doesn't even care about his future, and only wants to be in harmony with himself. This kind of true love is the most rare.

Su Jin took advantage of this opportunity, but Yan Biyun didn't reprimand him righteously. Instead, he let Jun love and love him, and just held on to the last hurdle.

The two chatted about each other for a long time, and Su Jin suddenly slapped his head and said, "I almost forgot the big thing, but the food is in Luzhou?"

"Yeah, it's a secret place in the northeast of Luzhou."

"I may have to leave in the next few days. Once the imperial decree comes down, I will go to Yangzhou in a few days. The 50 shi of grain will be transported to Yangzhou. Biyun, you may have to go to Luzhou to make arrangements." Needless to say? No one can find the grain of the slave except the slave, and no one will admit it; you can rest assured about this."

Su Jin gratefully took Yan Biyun's hand and said, "What a virtuous wife, why am I so blessed? I must have broken the wooden fish repair in my previous life."

Yan Biyun poked his forehead and said, "You, you know how to coax my family. This time, you made uncle very angry. When you come back, make an apology to him."

Su Jin said: "Isn't it sincere enough for me to help him with such a big matter? This job is not easy to handle. To be honest, I don't have any confidence in my heart right now."

Yan Biyun opened his eyes wide and said, "How dare you make a promise in front of the emperor if you have no idea?"

Su Jin said: "Should I tell the emperor 'I can't do it, I don't have the ability'? Even if I carry it hard, I still have to go. Besides, I am not sure at all. I, Su Jin, have been born and died. He is also a person who has seen the scene, how can he retreat in fear of difficulties?"

Yan Biyun chuckled, Su Jin slapped his chest loudly, he looked like a big horse monkey, it was useless to complain at this point, even if Su Jin stepped into the fire pit, he would never let him alone People are suffering, in short, life and death are in the same place.

……

On the second day, the imperial court made a big move. The first thing was to issue an edict to abolish the "meal reduction order". Zhao Zhen concealed it very well. Forcing the food reduction order is against the way of benevolence, so it was abolished. People who are willing to persist in diligence and thrift can be reported by local governments at the end of the year, and the court will give them praise.

Once the meal reduction order was abolished, everyone smiled and dispelled some rumors about the meal reduction order in the market. Although the rumors of the great famine still spread quietly, many people were skeptical.

The second thing that caused a sensation inside and outside the court and the public was the issuance of an imperial edict on the official purchase of private grain storage by the imperial court. The imperial edict stated that within one month from the day to November [-], all merchants or wealthy people with private grain storage exceeding [-] shi The family has to sell the surplus grain to the government at an official price that is [-]% higher than the market price.

During this period, anyone who pays and sells 30 shi will receive a plaque donated by the local state official. Obtain the admission qualification of the local government school; those who have more than 50 shi will be awarded the ninth-rank official status, and can be placed in the local state government department to receive the imperial salary; those who have more than [-] shi will be awarded the eighth-rank official status, and will enjoy the qualification of alternate official vacancies; Those who have more than [-] shi will be granted a family background, enjoy the qualifications for the Zhongju and be allowed to participate in the next year's Ritual Examination; those who have more than a million shi will be granted a Jinshi background, share the amount of official vacancies with the Jinshi of the same discipline, and will be inscribed by the emperor himself "Yi Shang" plaque.

However, those who have not voluntarily paid the price after November [-], after the time limit, the price of re-sale will be [-] yuan and one stone, and will not enjoy any rewards. Anyone who refuses to hand over grain in private storage will be dealt with severely according to the Song Xingtong.

All of a sudden, there were rumors and rumors flying all over the place, some clapped their hands, some yelled absurdly, some scoffed, and some panicked.