The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

However, Zhao Zhen was in an extremely urgent mood. He summoned three people that day and none of them made a statement. After that, he summoned three people the next night and asked them to propose reform measures in person, determined to carry out reforms.

The three couldn't help Zhao Zhen's urging, so they had to write down their thoughts in their own hands, and Zhao Zhen asked how to make changes, but this time the three of them had different opinions.

Both Fu Bi and Han Qi expressed that they should not be in a hurry to carry out reforms, but wait for the opportunity or choose one or two to try out before proceeding. Of course, such an answer cannot make Zhao Zhen mny, and Fan Zhongyan made a shocking suggestion after a long silence.

"Your Majesty, I believe that the reform should not be rushed. I have heard about it for a long time. There are discussions about the reform both inside and outside the court. There are few officials who are in favor of the reform, but there are many opponents. If the emperor is determined to carry out the reform immediately, I will have to Put forward conditions, otherwise the reform will fail." Fan Zhongyan said quietly.

Zhao Zhen said: "Say, I just want you to tell the truth. If there is any difficulty, you just need to say it. I will be the master for you."

Fan Zhongyan took a breath and said slowly: "If the name is not right, the words will not go well. I think that if we want us to lead the reform, we must first give us the right. Mr. Han Qi and I are deputy envoys of the privy secretaries, and we can't get involved in government affairs. , the emperor still needs to adjust his position."

Zhao Zhen said: "I have already considered this clearly. I plan to appoint you two as deputy privy envoys to work together, so that you will have a place in the Privy Council of the Government Affairs Council."

Fan Zhongyan said: "Thank you, Your Majesty, I don't want an official position. I am very clear about being an emperor, and I just discuss the matter. In addition, I think that the change will trigger the overall situation. Once the road of turning back is started, I ask the emperor to resist the rumors." Gossip, if the emperor develops suspicions against us, the reform will fail."

Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "It's natural. How can you doubt the candidates I propose? You don't have to be suspicious of people. As long as you work hard, I will definitely be your backing."

Fan Zhongyan nodded his thanks, and said: "The last point, I want to start with the matter of redundant officials first, and change the most painful place first. The people involved in this move are all officials, and it is the place that suffers the most resistance. If the change is successful, everything else will be easy, and if this one fails, the rest will not have to be done.”

Zhao Zhen frowned and said: "I once talked to Su Jin about the ten disadvantages of his strategy and theory. He said that it should be changed from easy to difficult, but your idea is qgu. It turns out that it is difficult first and then easy, but I believe in you more, and I respect it." For your opinion, I will give you a new appointment in the next year. The edicts you played may be revised and considered. I plan to announce the reform to the world in February after the third year of the Qingli Festival. During this period, you can consider it first. Report to me in detail."

……

In the Qinzhou posthouse, Su Jin frowned after listening to Fu Bi, Han Qi and others, and remained silent for a while.

Fu Bi said: "Lord Su, I came here this time just to hear your opinion. After all, you were the first to mention the ten disadvantages of policy theory, and because of your ten disadvantages of policy theory, the emperor has the heart to change. Now I wait to be ordered to act, but I always feel... I always feel that I have no bottom in my heart."

Su Jin looked up at the crowd and said, "My lords, I know the purpose of your trip. You all look up to me, Su Jin, and want Su Jin to come forward to help you all, but...with all due respect, this should be done with caution. OK, it’s not a child’s play.”

Han Qi said: "Master Su, we really want to ask for your help. The new minister of the court, Mr. Su's words carry a lot of weight. It is a good thing that the emperor is determined to change the long-standing evils of our Great Song Dynasty. Don't you think Mr. Su thinks Is this a good thing? Then the ten evils you wrote back then were against your will?"

Su Jin smiled and said: "Of course it's not against my will. I just don't think it's too hasty. As far as I know, the ten evils of the original policy were criticized. Lu Xiangdu, Privy Councilor and others have criticized this, saying that my dangerous words are detrimental. Even Yan Sansi scolded me for talking nonsense; the emperor later summoned me and asked me where to start, I replied that we must first start with the easy and then the difficult, start with the most important points, and make progress step by step subtly. It is necessary to know how strong the strength is and how much the reaction will be. Several important ministers in the DPRK and China are opposed to this. If they come forward to drive officials to oppose it, this reform will inevitably come to an end."

Ouyang Xiu said softly: "To tell you the truth, Lord Fan has already considered this point, so in order to deal with this situation, Lord Fan suggested that the emperor expand the number of counselors, transfer a number of counselors Lord Bao and I to sit in Yushitai, and others Jing, Wang Su, and Cai Xiang are all admonishers. When the new law is promulgated and implemented next year, the admonition officers can be launched at the same time. First, the Privy Council of the Government Affairs Council will start. Everyone who opposes must be eliminated. If a few important officials are overthrown, the world will be peaceful. The new law It will be carried out smoothly.”

Su Jin's back was sweating coldly, watching Bao Zheng asked Bao Zheng if there was something wrong with his eyes, Bao Zheng nodded slightly, which meant to confirm.

Su Jin slowly got up and paced, and said slowly: "My lords, listen to me, this move is absolutely unfeasible, such behavior is irrational, and in the final analysis, the reform is for the sake of the Song Dynasty, the country, and the country. Moving important ministers of the Song Dynasty for the sake of reform is a move that shakes the foundation and is absolutely unacceptable, and it is very likely to cause bloodshed. In addition, have you ever thought about overthrowing those who oppose the reform for the sake of reform? There is a suspicion that the party is the same, although several adults are upright, and they are completely for the sake of the Song Dynasty, but there are definitely people who will make a fuss about this matter, and the emperor will inevitably not be affected. Once the emperor thinks so, I don’t need to say what the consequences will be Bar."

Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, Su Jin must have thought too much, how could the changes proposed by the emperor himself change?Could it be that the emperor will go back on his word?

"Lord Su, your worries are completely superfluous. Although cliques are the most taboo thing in this dynasty, we are all upright people, and the emperor is also a wise king forever. How can you not see clearly? Lord Su is an official, the bolder he is, the better he will be." Xiao, this is beyond our expectation." Fu Bi said angrily, he thought Su Jin would definitely agree, and because of this reform, he even broke his face with Yan Shu. Turned against Su Jin.

Su Jin smiled and said: "Brother Fu, there is a public opinion on whether I am a timid person. The reason why I am so is that I ask you to think twice. If this reform does not come up with a flexible strategy and proceeds slowly, the result will definitely be a failure." In the end, all I can do is to give you a piece of advice, either slow down or not, and never rush forward; no matter how you think of me, time will prove that my consideration is not superfluous."

Han Qi got up and said with a flick of his sleeves: "I said earlier that I don't need to come to the northwest to talk about this matter with our No. Master Su Jinsu, our trip was wasted.”[

Both Ouyang Xiu and Fu Bi showed embarrassment. It seems that they must be the two who want to recruit themselves into the gang. Obviously, their status in their hearts is still extremely important, and this time it broke their hearts. up.

Su Jin didn't get angry, he made it very clear. It wasn't that Su Jin wasn't friends enough. It would be stupid to jump into the quagmire knowing that it was a quagmire. Su Jin knew that the Qingli Reform ended in failure, and he never knew what it was. What caused the final failure? Now it seems that this kind of failure is almost inevitable, because Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi and others did not hesitate to organize admonishing officials to impeach officials who opposed the reform for the reform. This is a kind of white terror. Some things need to be deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. The greater the pressure, the greater the consequences. It is conceivable that once the reform begins, the game between the two sides will be a life-and-death struggle, and it is nothing more than a battlefield of swords and swords.

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Su Jin really wants to tell them that history has proved that you are bound to fail, so it's better not to mess around, but how can such a thing be said, he can only make vague opinions, and hope that everyone can understand what he means and accept it in time hand.

"But Mr. Su decided not to help me?" Ouyang Xiu asked with a sigh.

Su Jin shook his head and said: "It's not that I don't want to help, but I can do nothing about it. I still advise you to think twice. No matter what, I, Su Jin, will repay the kindness of the adults, but not today. Not this."

"That's all! Master Su, please go back, I've waited for this trip to be worthless, I finally saw you clearly!" Han Qi's fiery temper could no longer be contained, he didn't want to see Su Jin again, but he didn't expect this person to be He is such a timid person.

Su Jin got up with a sigh and said goodbye: "Tomorrow, all the adults will return to the capital, and the lower officials will set up a kiosk outside the city to prepare wine and send them off."

Han Qi sneered and said, "Don't dare to do it, Mr. Su must not come tomorrow, be careful not to be falsely accused of being my cronies, and you will be implicated in the future."

Su Jin agreed, and went out with his arms folded. All the officials saw him off, and only Bao Zheng, who was silent from the beginning to the end, sent Su Jin out of the gate of the posthouse.

Su Jin stood on the cold street, looked at the sky full of stars, and said softly: "Master Bao, you are my teacher, you will not blame me."

Bao Zheng took a long breath and said, "I understand what you're thinking. In fact, everyone is not sure about this reform. If not, why would they come here to ask for your help?"

Su Jin was startled and said: "Since my mentor knows this, why did you come to stir up this muddy water?"

Bao Zheng said: "A man of the world does what he does and does not do it. I, Bao Zheng, don't care about cliques or any party that fights dissidents. I only do things according to my own conscience. Whether this reform is successful or unsuccessful, Bao Zheng will participate in it. , because the imperial court’s long-standing malpractices have become commonplace, success is naturally good, even if it fails, it is also valuable, that is to let the people of the world notice the long-standing malpractices, and future generations and future dynasties must have insightful people to carry it out again. Reform, once is not enough twice, twice is not enough ten times, there will always be a day of success, and then you will know the significance of this reform."

Su Jin was overwhelmed by Bao Zheng's mind and courage. This is a kind of momentum that although thousands of people would go for it, he did it knowingly that he failed. Although it is a foolish act, it has to be said that it hides great wisdom.

"Although students cannot participate in this matter, because students are taking another road to strengthening the country, students will never sit back and watch this reform fail. I will always pay attention to it, and I must not let honest ministers like Mr. Han Shuai and Fan Shuai be involved in this incident." fall in."

Bao Zheng patted Su Jin on the shoulder and said: "You are worthy of me today. You are very good, and you will be better than us in the future, because you are more flexible than us. I won't send you off. I will ask you tomorrow morning." You don't have to come to see you off when you set off to return to Beijing, so as not to be unhappy."

Su Jin raised his official robe and knelt down to salute Bao Zheng. Bao Zheng helped Su Jin up with a smile, and turned to enter the gate of the posthouse.

Under the dim light, Bao Zheng's back looked heavy and old. Su Jin sighed and boarded the car silently.