I studied in modern times

Chapter 841 Storm (2)

Zeng Bu heard Cai Jing's answer but didn't think too much about it.

Instead, he became excited.

This is normal!

Most of the literati in the Song Dynasty had some inexplicable sense of superiority.

In the eyes of many people, the whole world revolves around them.

Only they themselves are the smartest.

Although Zeng Bu was not one of those people, sometimes he was still very sober.

But being in the situation, it is inevitable to pick up some bad habits.

What's more, he had just been appointed as the regent, and had obtained the long-desired cool umbrella, and had also placed long spears at the door of his house.

Now is the time when I am full of ambition and pride.

And pride in politicians is equal to arrogance.

Arrogant people are bound to lose their cool and ignore many details.

In fact, their brains will actively and automatically rationalize many things.

Just like now, in Zeng Bu's eyes, Cai Jing's reasons were very reasonable.

As for why Cai Jing didn’t solve it?

Isn’t that simple?!

Cai Yuan is a coward!
Don’t dare to take responsibility!
Afraid of something happening!
waste!

But that’s okay, it’s a good opportunity to establish my authority!
Thinking of this, Zeng Bu said, "Mr. Cai!" He bowed towards the Baoci Palace and said, "I am hereby ordered to deal with all the illegal activities of the clerks!"

"From now on, I will take over these cases on behalf of the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple!"

As he said this, he took out a piece of hemp paper used for appointments to the capital, wrote the capital's official seal on it, and then sealed it with a stamp and handed it to Cai Jing: "Prefect, take this seal. When you go back and see the relevant documents, send them all to the Ministry of Justice!"

"Yes!" Cai Jing took the order without hesitation and read the text: Kaifeng Prefecture: The Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple are ordered to take over all illegal cases of clerks in the prefecture...

At the end there is "Fu Dao Feng Xing" and Zeng Bu's own signature: Zhongshu Shilang Bu.

The format is correct, the signature is correct, and the monogram is accurate.

This is a legal talisman.

According to the system, the order must be carried out. From now on, Kaifeng Prefecture must transfer all cases to the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple for handling.

After reading it, Cai Jing smiled.

He bowed again and said goodbye to Zeng Bu.

After leaving Dutang, Cai Jing sent someone back to the government office to convey the order from Dutang, while he himself walked towards Zuo Zhaoxuan Gate.

System: Ministers need to receive an imperial decree from the emperor before they can meet the emperor in the palace, and then arrangements must be made by the capital.

This is also one of the greatest powers in the hands of the prime ministers: they can decide who will meet the emperor and when.

but……

This system has an inherent bug - the emperor!
The supreme emperor can meet whomever he wants!

When it came to Zhao Xu, he simply poked a big hole out of this BUG.

He granted all officials with the title of Jingyanguan the right to submit memorials to the emperor individually.

The reason is very simple - I am young and should study, and while studying I should seek advice from you gentlemen.

Who can refuse the emperor from reading?

Who could refuse a young emperor with a strong thirst for knowledge from summoning his teachers to discuss the meaning of the classics?

Thus, a through train was opened up.

Cai Jing, Shen Kuo, Su Song, Fan Chunren, and Lu Dafang all became beneficiaries of this loophole.

Not long after handing over the letter, someone from the Interview Office came to inform Cai Jing that the emperor had summoned him.

……

Funing Hall, East Pavilion, in the quiet room.

The door carved out from behind the wall stood quietly open.

The guard on duty stood silently in front of the door.

The summer breeze blew in from the door, bringing a slight cool breeze.

Zhao Xu listened to Cai Jing's report quietly, and then said leisurely: "Mr. Cai, you have worked hard these days!"

"I dare not say that it is hard work. Everything is for your Majesty's great cause!" Cai Jing said with his head down.

In fact, not long after the incident of tax collectors oppressing "good people" in Malanqiao Town, Yanling County, Cai Jing had already made preparations to suppress it.

The left and right inspectors and the registrar of Kaifeng Prefecture had been mobilized at that time and were on standby at all times, waiting for Cai Jing's order to carry out the arrest immediately.

But just when Cai Jing felt that the time was right, Zhao Xu issued a handwritten edict, asking him to stop all arrest efforts.

From then on, everything Kaifeng Prefecture did was just adding fuel to the fire.

Otherwise, the clerks below would not be so bold and presumptuous!
Here, we have to thank the extremely underdeveloped transportation and information flow channels today.

From Bian Jing to the boundary markers of Kaifeng Prefecture, it is 245 li in the east, 115 li in the west, 2115 li in the south, and the closest point in the north is 100 li.

Two hundred and fifty-five miles to the southeast, one hundred and fifty miles to the southwest, one hundred and fifteen miles to the northwest, and one hundred and forty-five miles to the northeast.

Even Hua County, which was the closest to Bianliang, was still a hundred miles away from Bianliang City.

In other words, all within a day's walk, or even a day's ride on horseback.

Therefore, at the beginning, the enforcement of Zhao Xu's orders was centered in Bian Jing and gradually weakened outward.

This was also the norm in feudal society.

In today's Europe, because of feudal fiefdoms, there is a phenomenon called "my vassal's vassal is not my vassal."

The situation in the Song Dynasty was much better because it had a tradition of unification since ancient times.

However, in the vast majority of grassroots rural areas, it still falls into the hands of local elites.

And in Kaifeng Prefecture...

Who are the local sages?
Royal relatives! Military officials and nobles! Prime ministers and important officials!

Thinking of this, Zhao Xu narrowed his eyes and looked at Cai Jing: "Do you have any ideas in your mind?"

Cai Jing shook his head, with an expression of a humble public servant who was only there to store Zhao Xu's supreme wisdom: "I will follow your Majesty's lead in everything!"

Zhao Xu smiled: "Don't worry, I will compensate you!"

"In the next few days, the imperial censors of the Central Office will continue to impeach you...so you will have to endure some grievances!"

"I will serve Your Majesty with all my heart and will not hesitate to do so!" Cai Jing said with his head down, extremely humbly.

He now wished he could write an impeachment letter to impeach himself.

Take the blame for the emperor and be convicted by the government!
He enjoys it!
Cai Jing had only one thought: Please, everyone in the Central Office, please be more forceful! Use harsher words!
Don't pity me!
Please whip me as much as you like, gentlemen!

Zhao Xu laughed and said, "After this, your position as the acting governor of Kaifeng Prefecture will definitely be dismissed!"

Cai Jing bowed and said: "All my stays, departures and appointments are subject to your Majesty's orders!"

He has been serving in Kaifeng Prefecture for more than three years!

too long!
Not to mention others, he himself is often awakened by this fact.

Therefore, Cai Jing would be more than happy to take this opportunity to resign!
"What I mean is..." Zhao Xu said, "Since Prime Minister Zhang entered mourning, all internal and external affairs in Guangxi and Jiaozhou have been handled by Miao Shizhong and others!"

"I am a little worried that they may not be able to implement and execute the court's policies and my arrangements!" Zhao Xu had never even met Miao Shizhong.

I am indeed a little worried about his ability!

Cai Jing raised his head in ecstasy, but his face still maintained a calm expression.

Guangxi!

This, like Xihe, is recognized as the road to the two governments and the foundation of the prime minister!
It’s not that Zhang Dun lost his father this year and needed to return to his hometown to observe mourning, otherwise, how could Pu Zongmeng have been appointed as prime minister?
"Therefore, I intend to have you go south to Guangxi to serve as the governor of Guangxi and concurrently the governor of Annan Protectorate!"

"Protector General?" Cai Jing's little heart couldn't bear it.

What is the position of Duhu?
How could he not know?

All - all, hu - guardianship, protection!
The combination of the two means - I am your father!
Therefore, the protector generals of the Han and Tang dynasties all looked very fatherly!

He would lead his troops to attack other countries at any time, arrest their rulers, and bring them to justice in Chang'an!
During the Tang Dynasty, the Annan Protectorate had more than just the power to govern Jiaozhi.

Nanzhao, the southwestern tribes, Zhenla, Champa and the Nanyang region are all under the jurisdiction of the Protectorate!

The emperor is planning to re-establish the Annan Protectorate? And he wants me to be the Protector?

Just thinking about it made Cai Jing blush.

Zhao Xu said, "You should go to Chongwenyuan more often these days and take a look... read as many notes and records from past dynasties as possible, so that you can have a better understanding of Lingnan's geography, culture, and customs!"

"promise!"

Zhao Xu hummed, looked at Cai Jing, and nodded secretly.

All I can say is that with Cai Jing, the people of the Southeast Asian countries will continue to be blessed!
Therefore, he couldn't help but feel a little proud and wanted to express his anger.

To be more precise, he wanted to show off!
These days, Zhao Xu has been secretly carrying out his plans, but he has kept these things in his heart and has not told anyone.

This really made him feel uncomfortable!
After all, everyone has the desire to express themselves.

As the saying goes, if you don't return home when you are rich and powerful, it is like wearing fine clothes and walking at night!

Similarly, after doing something awesome, you should tell it about it to shock people and make your thoughts clear.

Otherwise, why do the richest people in modern times always make such confusing remarks?
I don’t love money or I am face-blind and don’t know how beautiful my wife is.

Old Ma from Xida University kept shouting that the earth could no longer accommodate him and he wanted to go to Mars.

So, Zhao Xu looked at Cai Jing and asked, "Qing Cai, do you know why I did everything after the 'tax exemption'?"

Cai Jing shook his head: "I am stupid..."

This is real!

He still doesn't understand what the government is trying to do with all this fanfare.
Just to deal with the clerks?
If that's the case, why bother?
Just send a few imperial censors to arrest those who should be arrested and imprison those who should be imprisoned. Under such harsh laws, who would dare to object?
Zhao Xu narrowed his eyes and said, "You should know that I have previously issued an edict ordering the Ministry of Personnel to transfer all the officials in charge of the seventeen towns within the Kaifeng Prefecture to Xihe and Guangxi for assignment?"

Cai Jing nodded.

"I do this because I know that they are all my relatives or old friends!" Zhao Xu raised his lips slightly, and said sarcastically, "These people have suffered a lot when their grandfathers and great-grandfathers followed Taizu and Taizong to conquer the world!"

"Since the officials in charge of the various towns and cities have a history with me or the two palaces..."

"So, what about the people below them?"

"Whose servants are these tax collectors and clerks?"

"Mine?" Zhao Xu chuckled.

Cai Jing lowered his head and didn't dare to respond.

Because the truth is too painful.

In every county within the prefecture, the largest landlords, the largest merchants, and the largest artisans are all the same kind of people.

Royal relatives, meritorious military officials, prime ministers and elders!
"I heard that when the emperor was carrying out reforms, the prefectures and counties caused trouble for him..."

Cai Jing's head was almost down to his abdomen.

"I don't want to repeat the same mistake!" Zhao Xu said softly.

At the climax of the Xining Reform, the Xuande Gate incident of the prime minister being dismissed occurred.

Subsequently, various criticisms followed one after another, and eventually led to Wang Anshi's first dismissal from his position as prime minister!
"Every county in the prefecture must have the surname Zhao, and it can only be my territory!"

Cai Jing swallowed.

Zhao Xu chuckled, and looking at Cai Jing's appearance, his mood began to brighten. As a former anchor, Zhao Xu actually enjoyed the feeling of showing off in front of others.

So, he chuckled and asked, "Has Cai Qing ever seen a dog trainer?"

Cai Jing shook his head.

"I've seen it!" Zhao Xu smiled, recalling what he had seen on modern TikTok in the past: "I heard that if you want a dog to be obedient and follow all the commands of its owner, you must let the dog know its position and know who its owner is!"

"Otherwise, the dog may misunderstand its own status and mistakenly think that it is the master!"

"So, some people in the private sector who keep dogs will be bitten by them, but people who are good at training dogs will let their dogs obey them no matter what kind of dog it is or what the situation is, as long as they give an order!"

"It's just because these people who are good at training dogs use their strength to make the dogs recognize who is the master and who can control its life and death!"

"But here comes the question... If there is a group of vicious dogs that have been tamed by humans... and only accept the command of their former master... If I want to turn these vicious dogs into my own vicious dogs and make them obedient, what should I do?"

"Tell me, Mr. Cai... What method should I use to make these vicious dogs become mine and forget their old masters?"

Cai Jing's teeth began to chatter: "Your Majesty...Your Majesty...Your Majesty is stupid..."

Zhao Xu laughed: "It would be great if they could never see their master again!"

"Then, I will take a stick and beat to death a few vicious dogs that dare to bare their teeth at me and disobey my command!"

“But what should be done to ensure that these vicious dogs never see their owners again?”

Cai Jing swallowed.

Were those supervisory officials who have now gone to Xihe and Jiaozhi transferred for this reason?
He gasped.

Because such tactics are very common in official circles.

Lure the tiger away from the mountain, promote him in public but demote him in secret.

but……

Supervisors are not just one person.

They have families behind them!

It can even be said that the officials in charge were just ordinary members of the royal families.

Not even a direct descendant!
and so……

What else did the government do?
Cai Jing suddenly remembered that almost at the same time, the left prime minister Lu Gongzhu announced that the day for the pawn purchase would be set on the Gengxu day of July.

As far as Cai Jing knew, the pawnbroker's buying and selling was "fair, open and just."

In fact, the government had already distributed pork according to regions.

Southeast six routes, Fujian Guangzhou, border routes...

Everyone among the local powerful figures of the Song Dynasty has a share!
Therefore, God’s grace is vast and the rain and dew are equally distributed!

The pawnshops left for the powerful in Bianliang were the biggest and fattest pieces of meat.

However, with more people than meat, competition is bound to be fierce.

In this situation, who would dare to create trouble or extend their claws?

There is no need for the government to take action, others will step on the guy who made the mistake to the ground, trample on him and ravage him to show their loyalty!
Compared with the pawnshops, the clerks in the counties of the prefecture were just dispensable servants and running dogs in the eyes of the royal relatives, military officials and nobles.

Servants and running dogs, if they are gone, they are gone.

You can recruit again later!

But if you miss the chance to buy the bet, it won’t be so easy to get on board next time!
(End of this chapter)