I studied in modern times

Chapter 971 Zhao Xu: We can only rely on the wisdom of future generations
The continuous rain and snow in the third year of Yuanyou continued as if there was no sign of stopping.

There was no other way, so the ministers had to continue attacking.

First, he petitioned to temporarily suspend the construction of all palaces in Bianliang this spring.

Empress Dowager Xiang naturally accepted the advice and issued an edict to cancel the two palaces in the back garden of the imperial city and wait for the weather to clear up this year.

The repair of Jinming Lake and Qionglin Garden outside the city was also stopped.

In fact, it is not possible to stop.

It was either snowing or sleeting every day.

The workers couldn't start work at all!
Of course, as a dynasty that has maxed out its talent for maintaining stability.

The difference between the Zhao Song Dynasty and other dynasties is that the construction projects can be stopped, but the workers' basic salaries and food supplies will not be stopped.

Therefore, Empress Dowager Xiang subsequently issued an edict ordering the officials to provide basic food rations and wages to the craftsmen of the relevant projects on a daily basis.

The supply was one liter of rice and thirty coins per person per day until work resumed.

This is certainly not because the Zhao officials are kind-hearted.

But it’s because I’ve suffered losses in this regard before!
Therefore, Zhao Xu subsequently issued an edict to reward the imperial guards in Beijing in the name of Xue Han.

The standard is the same as for the common people - one liter of rice and thirty coins per person per day, which lasts until the weather clears up.

In addition, the families of soldiers were given ten coins per person per day, and children under seven years old were given twice the amount.

Each household was given five coal briquettes per day.

This is because, among the imperial guards in Beijing, except for the number one general who controls the dragon, their main job is not to be a soldier, but to fight!

If they don't fight, these people can't even support themselves with just the military pay and rewards!

Not to mention the family.

When soldiers cannot support themselves, one thing will naturally happen - they will take up sharp weapons and start killing!
Of course, this alone is not enough.

So, in the next few days, the court continued to introduce policies.

On the 23rd day of the first lunar month, due to the prolonged cold, the emperor issued an edict to the military governors of all the provinces, ordering that all those who were assigned to military service or captured deserters should be temporarily detained in the states where they were stationed or passed through. The deadline outside the capital was three months, and the deadline in the capital was four months.

This means that prisoners who should have been exiled or escaped soldiers sentenced to hard labor should not be escorted any further, but should stay where they are and be arranged by local authorities.

Of course, these people can't eat and drink for free.

Local authorities have the right to force them to perform labor.

This is somewhat a kind of human rights concern for criminals.

After all, in such a cold day, if the government continued to forcibly escort the criminals on the road, only one out of ten would survive.

The next day, Renshen (24).

The Right Prime Minister Pu Zongmeng submitted a memorial requesting that an auspicious date be set for the imperial examination in the third year of Yuanyou.

The emperor agreed to it and ordered the Ministry of Rites to choose an auspicious day to present the proposal.

We need to use the imperial examination to relieve the resentment created in people's hearts by the continuous rain and snow in the capital.

The Ministry of Rites immediately reported several auspicious days. After Empress Dowager Xiang consulted Zhao Xu, the mother and son finally decided to select an auspicious day by drawing lots. The auspicious day finally determined was Dingsi Day in March (the tenth day).

Immediately, he issued an edict to the capital, ordering him to post the announcement.

The next day, Zhao Xu issued another decree, appointing Zhang Heng, the Minister of Revenue and the Attendant of Longtu Pavilion, as the in charge of the tribute examination, and Wang Zishao, the Vice Minister of Personnel, and Fan Bailu, the Imperial Censor, as the acting in charge of the tribute examination.

When the three received the imperial edict, they did not dare to delay and immediately submitted a letter requesting to enter the palace to meet the emperor.

This is the proper meaning of the title.

Because, although the imperial examination does not consider background or connections, it is all based on the writing.

However, the emperor’s own opinions, inclinations and hobbies are also of paramount importance!

After all, you can't admit people into the imperial examinations whom the emperor doesn't like!
For example, the biggest unlucky guy in the history of imperial examinations in the Song Dynasty - Liu Yong!
With this person's talent, isn't it possible for him to pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi?
But he failed in the examinations again and again, and after wasting decades, he finally passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi in the first year of Jingyou.

why?

The emperor dislikes him and despises him!

Therefore, no one dared to admit him!
The reason why he was able to pass the imperial examination was purely because of his great fame.

If we continue to suppress it, public opinion will be dissatisfied. For Emperor Zhao, it will be embarrassing and people will talk about him.

Even so, Liu Yong's official career after being released from prison was extremely bumpy.

It was not until his later years that he got the opportunity to change his official position because of Fan Zhongyan's implementation of the Qingli New Deal.

Otherwise, how could this Liu Qilang, also known as Liu Sanbian, have the elegant name of Liu Tuntian?

Yan Jidao suffered the same fate.

Yan Jidao's literary talent is known to the world.

But he never achieved any honor in his life, nor could he pass the imperial examination to achieve honor!

Up to now, the only official position he held was awarded in the third year of Yuanfeng for writing a poem for Zhao Xu's father.

of course!

Yan Jidao is far inferior to Liu Yong.

Because Liu Yong is really talented!
They can indeed bend down and participate in grassroots governance.

What about Yan Jidao?

The latest news Zhao Xu learned is that he is in Dengzhou, being a bridegroom every night!
no way!
Dengzhou is now a city of shining stars.

Su Shi, Yan Jidao, Li Kefei, Zhang Shunmin, and Qin Guan who was about to go to Beijing to serve as the Supervisory Censor in the Censorate.

Really, the immortals are listed as numerous as hemp!
Except for Li Kefei, all of these people are talented and romantic.

Therefore, it is inevitable to attract bees and butterflies.

Zhao Xu heard that not only the famous prostitutes in Bian Jing were eager to travel thousands of miles to Dengzhou to see him off.

There were also famous prostitutes from Yangzhou, Suzhou and Hangzhou who brought their own dry food and rushed to Dengzhou.

According to the report from the Investigation Department, they are all proud of being able to have a romantic relationship with Su, Yan and other gentlemen.

Most of these famous prostitutes never had the opportunity to meet Su Shi.

As a result, Yan Jidao became a hot commodity.

Fighting for it among countless people!

After Zhao Xu found out, he also shook his head and sighed.

But, for him who had studied abroad in modern times, this kind of thing was nothing.

Because modern people’s star chasing is even more exaggerated than this.

There are all kinds of people in all kinds of circles, emerging one after another, and Zhao Xu has long been accustomed to it.

What's more, these famous prostitutes all have a purpose - they are all there to raise their own value.

After all, no matter how beautiful a prostitute is, her value is limited.

But what if this woman was once Yan Jidao’s confidante?

The value of this thing will naturally increase rapidly!
Far away.

Back to the present, after receiving the memorial from Zhang Heng and others requesting to see the emperor, Zhao Xu approved it and ordered the audience office to arrange the time and shifts for the audience.

An hour later, the Communication Office sent the scheduled time for the audience with the emperor.

Coincidentally, the person who came to deliver the documents was Zhang Shuye.

Zhao Xu ordered Tong Guan to take the document sent by Zhang Shuye, and then asked him, "Are you used to being in the Tongjian Division, Mr. Zhang?"

Zhang Shuye was still a little nervous. He lowered his head and reported: "Thanks to your Majesty's care, I am not unaccustomed to the Tongjiansi!"

"That's good!" Zhao Xu reached out to take the report presented by Tong Guan and glanced at the time scheduled on it - the first day of the first lunar month (9:00 a.m. on the 26th).

He then approved it and ordered Tong Guan to return it to Zhang Shuye for filing.

Zhang Shuye took it respectfully, bowed his head again, and was about to take his leave.

Zhao Xu stopped him and asked, "Since Mr. Zhang returned to the capital, have you ever visited Qin Zhang?"

Zhang Shuye was stunned for a moment before he realized that Zhao Xu was talking about the cousin whose dowry was taken away by his cousin Zhang Ji.

He immediately replied: "Your Majesty, after I returned to the capital, I sent someone to pay a visit to your residence, but my sister refused to meet me..."

Zhao Xu was not surprised. After all, Qin Zhang was badly cheated by the Zhang family.

Her elder brother even planned to marry her to a wealthy businessman in Bian Jing!
Fortunately, she was smart. After hearing the news, she informed her husband's family. And her husband's family was not a coward. They came to propose marriage with the marriage certificate.

At the same time, Qin Zhang was at home, and when there were many people around, she threatened to commit suicide.

This saved her from the fate of becoming someone's concubine.

However, her brother became jealous of her and refused to give her the dowry.

Qin Zhang had no place to appeal and could only give up.

In the end, it was Zhang Ji who took the lead in resisting the taxes, which caused Emperor Zhao to be unhappy. He was treated as an example by a deus ex machina and was sent to Shamen Island.

I guess he is dead now (the death rate of prisoners in Salmon Island exceeded 80% in half a year!)

It was later discovered that Zhang Ji wanted to marry Qin Zhang to a wealthy businessman as a concubine, but he had actually been planning to swallow up her dowry from the beginning - once a woman is married to someone else as a concubine, her life and death are no longer in her own hands!

After the merchants got tired of playing with them, they could resell them at will! (A concubine is property. The Northern Song Dynasty had a system of [hiring concubines] - such concubines were considered hired workers. After giving birth to a son or reaching the end of their term, they could continue to return to their husband's family. Many people without heirs would choose this method to continue their offspring. Wang Anshi's wife hired such a concubine for him, but Wang Anshi returned her. In this way, hiring concubines is equivalent to an investment. Some people would marry many concubines and then sell these poor people as reproductive tools to exploit them.)

In this way, Zhang Ji can achieve a win-win situation.

Swallow your sister's dowry to win once, and accept the rich businessman's gift to win again!
As for your question, isn’t he afraid of being criticized for doing this?
Ha ha!

In the Song Dynasty society where everything is about money, such things are commonplace.

Haven’t you seen that for money, royal family members openly marry their daughters to merchants at a fixed price?
In the folk society, it is common for young sons and daughters left behind by their parents to die in large numbers.

Among ten young sons and daughters taken care of by their brothers and sisters-in-law, it is considered good if one can survive to adulthood!
Therefore, the orphan entrustment business of the Silusi in Bianjing City was so popular - even though the officials of the Silusi were notoriously corrupt in the past, there were still countless people who chose to entrust their property to the Silusi.

Because the officials of the Silusi would not deliberately torture or abuse orphans for money.

Otherwise, if an orphan dies, the inheritance left by his parents will be confiscated.

At that time, if the money is missing, the higher-ups will investigate.

However, as long as these orphans can survive to adulthood, the properties must be returned to the other party.

And at that time, how much will be returned?

It's just a matter of the officials' mouths touching each other.

As for now, Silusi's business is booming like never before.

It’s almost become a second-hand trust industry!
Even wealthy merchants and landlords in the prefecture who were not residents of Bianliang would now choose to hand over the property that should be left to their young sons and daughters to the Silusi before they died, sign a deed, and let the Silusi manage the property.

no way!
Who asked that there be an emperor and a empress dowager sitting in the palace now, who are extremely sensitive to such things and easily get angry?

Therefore, Kaifeng Prefecture directly elevated matters related to orphans and orphans under care to a political level.

Whether it was Cai Jing in the past, Qian Jie in the present, or other major officials of Kaifeng Prefecture, they were all highly vigilant about the orphans' property entrusted to the Silusi.

He even sent his own sons and nephews to watch over him day and night.

They are afraid that something might go wrong and make big news, which would affect their own jobs.

As a result, the orphan property preservation rate of the Silusi rose sharply.

That’s how credibility is established!
Back to Qin Zhangshi, she found out later that her own brother was plotting against her.

And in the entire Zhang family, no one stood up for her.

Naturally, she was completely heartbroken and gave up completely!
He has completely severed ties with the Zhang family.

According to the report from the Investigation Department, Qin Zhang now only goes to the Zhang family's ancestral tomb to burn incense and worship on annual festivals and her parents' death anniversaries, and has cut off all contact with other members of the Zhang family.

Zhao Xu paid attention to this matter partly to set an example and partly for Zhang Shuye.

This was something he left specially for Zhang Shuye.

A legitimate qualification to inherit Zhang Qi’s political legacy.

So, Zhao Xu pursed his lips and said, "Your sister is a pitiful person... I also sympathize with her!"

"Duke Zhang Rongxi (Zhang Qi's posthumous name is Rongxi) is a close minister to the Zhen Temple. Zhang Xianmingsu and Ren Temple are also loyal ministers who are relied upon as the Great Wall!"

"But my family is in misfortune. I, the guilty minister Ji, have not cultivated benevolence and justice and have forgotten the teachings of the saints. I have no choice but to clean up the family for Duke Rong Xi!"

"Later, there was a rebellious son named Zhang Chengyi, who went against human ethics..."

"I am very sad too!"

"Fortunately, the influence of Duke Rongxi has not yet been extinguished, and there is a wise minister like you who can continue the family lineage!"

Zhang Shuye immediately bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, I am so honored!"

Zhao Xu smiled and waved his hand, saying, "I know what you did in Lanzhou!"

"Wang Hao, the governor of Lanzhou, and my two relatives have all told me that you are diligent and studious, loyal to your duties, and unyielding despite being wronged!"

This is a fact!

Of course, Zhao Xu actually just asked Lanzhou to pay attention to Zhang Shuye and did not give any other instructions.

But when the decree reached Lanzhou, Lanzhou began its routine operations for similar matters - that is, PUA.

However, Zhang Shuye passed the local PUA in Lanzhou perfectly, and he had no complaints even after being deliberately ignored and treated differently.

Zhang Shuye listened and bowed, saying, "I am the emperor's servant, and I shall be loyal to him. As your Majesty's minister, I shall be loyal to you!"

"Good!" Zhao Xu nodded in satisfaction, and then said: "Zhang Qing, please take some time out these few days to visit your sister again!"

"After all, they are family!"

"After all, they are all descendants of Lord Rong Xi!"

"Broken bones are connected to the tendons!"

Zhang Shuye couldn't help but get excited when he heard this. He bowed his head respectfully and said, "Yes!"

"I will obey your orders and will not disobey you!"

Of course he could hear the emperor's subtext - I have already determined that you are the true heir and head of the family of Duke Rongxi!
But the idea of ​​reviving the family and bringing honor to the ancestors was something he could not refuse.

"Good!" Zhao Xu nodded: "You can go and get busy!"

He revived destroyed nations, continued extinct families, and raised up the remaining people, and the people of the world were loyal to him.

This is the moral requirement that Confucius put forward for monarchs. For thousands of years, whether they believed it or not, emperors had to pretend to do so on the surface.

For Zhao Xu, he really needed to help Zhang Shuye rise to prominence and make his attitude clear to other noble families - I am willing to share wealth and honor with everyone!
Look!

Zhang Ji and Zhang Chengyi are such assholes!

But I still haven't cut off Duke Xu's connection with the family!

Instead, he took great pains to select a talented person from the descendants of Duke Xu and trained and promoted him.

So, you should know how to choose, right?

This is also the only way to carry out reforms in a deformed dynasty like the Song Dynasty.

It is necessary to unite the majority of the ruling group first.

At least we have to make them believe that the emperor's reforms will not harm their vital interests.

Only in this way can we reduce opposition from vested interest groups.

Buy time and space for reform.

Of course, Zhao Xu knew that doing so would actually have serious consequences.

This is because if the reform is not thorough, the old interest groups will inevitably be preserved to a large extent.

In the future, they will become obstacles to continued reform and become tumors parasitic on the body of the country.

Only by carrying out a thorough revolution and using blood and fire to cleanse and eradicate these tumors can this country move forward.

Just like, Huang Chao killed all the aristocratic families, which led to the prosperity of the imperial examination system in the Song Dynasty.

But Zhao Xu couldn't care less.

What he has to solve now is the issue of survival.

So, we can only compromise with these people.

Besides...

He was a feudal emperor.

The butt is sitting on the side of the noble group.

He himself has no motivation to carry out thorough reforms - no one will reform himself!

and so……

We can only rely on the wisdom of future generations!
(End of this chapter)