The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

In the evening of that day, Su Jin went to the palace to meet Zhao Zhen. Hearing that Su Jin had returned from the northwest, Zhao Zhen was very happy and summoned Su Jin in the bedroom.

Zhao Zhen waved back the servant, turned his head and asked, "How is the matter with the horse?"

Su Jin said: "Fortunately, ten thousand horses have been raised in Longshan South Racecourse. The grass seeds sprinkled on the ten thousand mu pasture are growing well. I have selected two thousand stallions. In time, the racecourse will be able to breed horses by itself. My lord Song will also have his own supply of horses in the future."

Zhao Zhen smashed his fists in his palms and said happily: "Great, I'm about to go away from a heart disease. With a war horse, whose country should our soldiers of the Song Dynasty be afraid of? Su Jin, you have made another great contribution, but you have already done it. The promotion is too fast, and this matter cannot be publicized, this time I will not reward you."

Su Jin bowed his body and said: "Serving the country and doing what you should do, how can you seek rewards everywhere."

Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "Very well, everyone is as high-spirited and upright as Su Jin, and works hard to govern. Why don't my Song Dynasty be strong?"

Su Jin said: "Your majesty, please don't give me a high hat. In fact, this time I want to ask the emperor to order the Privy Council to accept the first batch of [-] war horses. I can't afford the fodder and fodder for these horses. If things go on like this, next time I go to Beijing, I will be naked and beg for money."

Zhao Zhen laughed and said: "Crying poor again, I know you can definitely afford it, and I don't have any money to give you now, you can only find a way to solve it yourself."

Su Jin shouted: "Your Majesty, how could you do this? Isn't this killing me? Millions of dollars have been laid on horses and grain. What do you want me to give to depositors when Huitong Yinzhuang settles at the end of the year? Then If that's the case, I won't do the horse trade in the future."

Zhao Zhen waved his hand and said, "Be safe and don't be impatient. I don't have the money, but I can use other alternatives. This year, water conservancy projects are being built in various parts of the south. This year, the Yangtze River embankment on Huainan Road is also being reinforced, and official roads in various places are also being refurbished. It’s all money, it’s not that I don’t want to give it, but it’s just that I’m really stretched. The delivery of horses to the army is naturally a top priority, but I know you must have a way to solve it, and those mediocre people can’t solve it on their own. If I want them to do things You can only give money first."

Su Jin widened his eyes and said, "Is it just me who is unlucky to co-author? If you wear such a high hat, I will lose half of my hair. I can't do it."

Zhao Zhen looked at Su Jin and said sincerely: "Su Jin, I'm talking to you from the bottom of my heart. I have high expectations for you. You know how I treat you. Although you have made great achievements, you have also made big mistakes. A lot, I have forgiven you, so you should repay my favor, how about thinking of a way? The Privy Council budgeted a year ago, this year the armor of the army will be reforged, and 3000 new armors will be added, all of which will cost money Ah, what do you want me to do? The imperial court only has an income of 300 to 3000 million yuan every year. In the year of great harvest last year, the purchase method you proposed saved [-] million yuan. Even so, it was only [-] million to [-] million yuan. Everyone says that his business is the most urgent, what do you think I can do?"

Su Jin looked at Zhao Zhen's haggard appearance and pitiful tone, and his heart softened a little. The emperor thought that he might as well be happy as a landowner, worrying about this and that all day long, and vomiting blood at every thought, which is really meaningless.

But Su Jin can't just go back empty-handed and use his own money to fill the country's holes.

After thinking for a while, Su Jin said: "The emperor's words have already reached this point, if the minister refuses to agree, it will be too disrespectful to the emperor."

Zhao Zhenxi said: "I know you understand the righteousness. I remember your kindness. When the court recovers, I will pay the full amount, plus interest?"

Su Jin waved his hand and said: "Your Majesty, you don't need to draw sugar cakes for your ministers. You haven't paid the grain money I paid for Yangzhou's grain affairs the year before last, and I don't want to. I won't be able to get the money, so Well, can I ask the emperor for other things?"

Zhao Zhen said: "You say, as long as you don't go too far."

Su Jin said: "I want a place."

Zhao Zhen said in astonishment: "Want a place? You mean to seal the land?"

Su Jin shook his head and said: "No, I heard that there is a place in the east of Yinzhou on Yanyan Road that produces oil. It can be refined to get fire oil, but it is very expensive. However, after burning this material, it can be used to make ink. I want to make a mill and sell it. Return the funds, otherwise, where will the minister get the money to continue doing business with the Yeli Tribe?"

Zhao Zhen said in amazement: "Make ink? How much can that thing earn? You shouldn't be like this."

Su Jin smiled and said: "Don't worry about it, the emperor only needs to give me the barren mountains and wild mountains with a radius of [-] miles from Yindong. From now on, I will provide court horses for free, but the amount is limited to [-] horses per year. If there are too many, I will not be able to bear it."

Zhao Zhen doubts Su Jin's motives very much, but Zhao Zhen also knows that the land of Ningdong borders Xixia, which is a barren barren mountain. Although oil is produced, and oil is the raw material for refining kerosene, it is refined into Fire oil consumes a lot of money, and it is not worth it at all; besides, there are still several states producing oil, which is not a precious thing; but since Su Jin wants to make ink or do other things in that place, let him go, after all, for Zhao Zhen It is said that a barren mountain is not worth the high value of the annual supply of [-] war horses. [

"Okay, then I will give you fifty miles of silver in Dongfangyuan. Don't regret it. If there are [-] war horses every year, I will lose my face if I lose one horse."

Su Jin said with a smile: "How dare I disobey my promise, do I still want my head?"

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Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "It's good that you understand, and you work hard. In a few years, I will transfer you back to Beijing. Then you will have to shoulder the heavy burden. Don't make any troubles in the past few years."

Su Jin nodded and said yes, the monarch and his ministers took two sips of tea, the topic changed, and naturally turned to the reform of Fan Zhongyan and others.

Zhao Zhen coughed and asked Su Jin, "I heard that last winter, Han Qi, Ouyang Xiu, Fubi and others invited you to carry out the reform, but you refused, right?"

Su Jin said: "Yes."

Zhao Zhendao: "I'm just qgu. During the imperial examination, your policy and theory were all right. It seemed that you were cynical and wanted to change the world. Why did you refuse when they invited you?"

Su Jin said: "I don't have that talent, so it's better not to make trouble."

Zhao Zhen frowned and said, "You must be insincere. I see that you are very interested in the political reform. Otherwise, how could you immediately write the ten disadvantages of policy theory? And all the rules seem to be well thought out. I ordered Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi and others To make changes, the blueprint is based on your policy theory, Fan Zhongyan said that your policy theory and ten disadvantages are quite detailed, and almost any modification is needed to proceed according to this, but you, the initiator, are unwilling to participate, I really feel qgu."

Su Jin looked at Zhao Zhen and said: "Actually, the emperor should understand what I mean. Last year, the emperor summoned the humble officials to ask if they could carry out reforms according to the ten evils of the policy. The ministers had already said clearly at that time that some items are feasible, and some items are not available now. It is not feasible; although the medicine of tiger and wolf seems to have immediate effect, but it is also quite toxic, I dare not use it rashly, and I still insist on the method of gradual and orderly progress."

Zhao Zhen said: "You mean Fan Zhongyan and the others are too radical?"

Su Jin shook his head and said: "I don't dare to make unreasonable comments. If I am not in my position, I will not seek political power. Only the emperor supports the reform. Famous ministers such as Fan Shuai, Han Shuai, Fubi Ouyang and others will participate. It is better for us not to intervene."

Zhao Zhen said: "The more I listen to it, the more I feel that there is something in your words."

Su Jin got up and knelt down to salute: "I don't have any other intentions, I just beg the emperor to promise me one thing today."

Zhao Zhen was surprised and said: "What is this? Pingshen! Whatever you say, just say it."

Su Jindao: "Lord Fan, Lord Han, Lord Fu, Lord Ouyang, Lord Bao, and all the lords who are active in reforming the law are all for the sake of the Song Dynasty. No matter what the future is, I dare to ask the emperor to remember this point. Don't believe in the villain's slander; I don't want them to be slandered, and I also hope that the emperor can grasp the priorities of the changes, too hasty will cause a lot of trouble."

Zhao Zhen felt more and more qgu, why did Su Jin seem to imply that the reform would fail?Even pleading for Fan Zhongyan and others in advance, Zhao Zhen felt a little funny.

"Get up, you have too much control." Zhao Zhen said with a half-smile.

Su Jin didn't move, cupped his hands and said: "I beg the emperor to agree to this humble minister."

Zhao Zhen waved his hands and said so-called: "I promise you, I really don't understand you, what are you thinking?"

Su Jin responded indifferently, thinking: If you tell my secret, you will be scared to death. If I recall carefully, I can calculate the date of your death, but will I tell you?