The legend of the king of crossing

Chapter 158 Difficult Choice

As Ye Mengding said, the ancestors of the Pu Shougeng family came from the Western Regions.According to the research of later generations, the reliability from Arabia is relatively high.Pu Shougeng is also an official and a businessman, which is a typical combination of government and business. With the power in his hand, he can carry out the spice trade on a larger scale, and can use various "legal" means to grab benefits and increase wealth.Pu Shougeng monopolized the overseas trade of spices in Quanzhou for nearly 30 years at the end of the Song Dynasty.

Of course, when Pu Shougeng was in Quanzhou, he vigorously developed overseas trade, making Quanzhou the largest port in the East at that time, and Quanzhou's tax revenue once accounted for one-tenth of the entire Song Dynasty.

Emperor Duzong of Song Dynasty at the end of Xianchun (1271~1274), and his brother Pu Shousheng were appointed envoys to appease the coast of Fujian Province because of their meritorious service in pacifying pirates.Later, he was appointed as a recruiting envoy of Fujian and Guangdong to command the ships of Fujian and Guanghai.Later, because Zhang Shijie "plundered 1277 Pu's ships and lost their goods", he descended to the Yuan Dynasty in the first year of Song Duanzong Jingyan (early 15).In the 1278th year of Yuan Shizu Kublai Khan's reign ([-]), Pu Shougeng was appointed as Zhongshu Zuo Cheng of Fujian Province.

Because of the rebellion against Song Shiyuan, the descendants of Pu Shougeng in southern Fujian were explicitly prohibited from becoming officials in the early Ming Dynasty.

Such a historical figure does not exist at all in my memory of the late Song Dynasty.According to today's Forbes ranking, Pu Shougeng's family is either number one or number two.Its strength is naturally not something that Lin Zhixiong can compete with.

Ye Mengding went on to say: "Chen Huainan, Supervisor of Fuzhou Shipping, is also a member of Chen Xinshu's family. If it's Shi Hongsheng and Chen Xinshu's intentions, then Chen Huainan must listen."

"Shi Hongsheng and Chen Xinshu, these two are important officials on Fujian Road."

Lin Zhixiong thought I knew them, he was overjoyed, and said, "Your Excellency, do you know them?"

I shook my head: "I don't know any of them."

Lin Zhixiong said disappointedly: "If you can't do anything, then I have no choice but to admit defeat."

Ye Mengding suddenly said: "Boss Lin, have you gone to the state government office to sue?"

"I've been there, but the government didn't accept it, saying it's a matter for the Shipping Department, and they can't control it."

Ye Mengding himself is the Minister of the Ministry of Officials who manages officials, so he is naturally clear about the jurisdiction of the officialdom: "The superior yamen of the Shipping Department is the state capitals of various places, so why can't they control it?"

"The magistrate of Fuzhou must know something about it, so he dare not accept it."

"Well, it sounds like, if the Pu family did it, everything can be explained, and the motive is easy to explain."

Lin Zhixiong said: "Yes, Mr. Huyan, I think so too. The only firm on Fujian Road that is more powerful than my firm is Quanzhou Pujia."

I thought for a while and said, "Boss Lin, you go back first, let me think about this matter carefully, and we will discuss it here tonight."

"Okay." Lin Zhixiong said helplessly, "Then I'll come back tonight, my lord, and take my leave."

After Lin Zhixiong left, Ye Mengding said, "My lord, how do you want to deal with this matter?"

For me, it's just a small thing.I can ask the Ministry of Commerce to issue a document saying that monosodium glutamate is not among the prohibited items, or I can directly ask Ye Mengding to order Fujian Road to let it go.But this matter is very likely to involve the entire bureaucratic system of Fujian Road, which makes me have to be careful.

Without careful investigation, I am also very clear that at least [-]% of the government offices in the entire Song Dynasty have corruption and dereliction of duty, and in some areas it can even be as high as [-]%.It can be seen from several land measurements that the official website of Fujian Road is not simple, and even the powerful Jia Sidao has nothing to do about it.

The officials of the entire Song Dynasty held the view that punishment does not punish the public, and collectively cheated.During Song Lizong's period, Jia Sidao was in power, seeking personal gain and greedy for pleasure.

After Jia Sidao forcibly pushed the public land law, due to his quick success and improper management, the common people's trust in the government also fell to the lowest point, from disappointment to numbness, which also caused the dissatisfaction of most Song people when Mongolia invaded the south. As, because their hearts have been numb, they have long been indifferent to any country or nation, let alone any fighting spirit or ideals.

I have always wanted to change this situation of officialdom corruption, but I still can't make up my mind how to change it.I know that only a court government that wins the trust of the people and can do something can give the people confidence. Therefore, according to my original intention, I will hand over all corrupt officials to the Ministry of Punishment for questioning.

Punishment does not blame the public, I can only think about it, but I dare not actually do it.

Even if my new army is trained and able to take down all these officials according to the law, it will only be a short-lived moment. If the officials are gone, who will govern the whole country will probably be in chaos for several years, but If it continues to develop, it won't take long for the corner of the Great Song Dynasty to be devoured by these moths and rats.What's more, there is Mongolia like a tiger and wolf in the north, and it will go south at any time.

Even if there is no powerful Mongolia, I guess the country of the Great Song Dynasty is exhausted.

However, there is one thing that I am very, very pleased with. No matter how corrupt these corrupt officials are, their property is still in our dynasty. I can't get it back even if I catch it.

Just like this Fujian Road, from the envoys to the lower officials, it is estimated that everything can be investigated and dealt with according to law.But what to do after the investigation is over?It is impossible for the common people to have direct elections. This seems even more unrealistic.

Technology can revolutionize in an instant, but democracy can only evolve gradually.

But here I am, this is the variable.No matter what, I will change, after all, I am the guardian's chosen one.

I didn't answer directly, but looked at Ye Mengding and Yuan Ji in the room and said: "Ye Aiqing, Mr. Yuan, I want to discuss a question with you."

The two of them were startled, for some reason I suddenly called myself Zhen again.Knowing something was wrong, Yuan Ji said loudly to the door: "Lan Yu, you and Shen Mo are guarding the door, no one can enter at will."

Ye Mengding said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, please speak clearly."

"Today's officialdom is very clear to you. Since Emperor Taizu, our dynasty has been in power for nearly 300 years. Up to now, officials have become more and more corrupt, and various places have engaged in selfish and fraudulent activities. , so that the order of the central government cannot be implemented at all. I want to change the status quo, and I will definitely change it. But I have never made up my mind to make a choice. Now I have a few ideas, and I just have time to discuss them with you. Simply put To put it bluntly, the first method is to investigate all officials who violate the law according to the law in all ministries and districts across the country; the second method is to maintain the overall situation, catch typical examples, and kill everyone; Wait and go through the old accounts. Of course there may be a fourth, fifth, or even more."

I have also thought about this third way for a long time.As the saying goes, if the upper beam is not straight and the lower beam is crooked, the main beam is inclined. If the lower beam is straight, it will be beaten instead. There are not many saints in this world. Most people will first plan for themselves. Slanted, so as not to be crushed by the main beam.

If the first emperor had a wise emperor, he would not be in the situation he is today.

Ye Mengding has lived in the officialdom for a long time, so he is naturally more familiar than Yuan Ji: "Your Majesty, I think the first method is obviously not advisable. If it is investigated and dealt with according to the law, there are probably not many people left in the government, so I prefer the second method. As for The third one, I haven't figured it out yet."

The third option is the ICAC model of Hong Kong in later generations.

Yuan Ji said: "Your Majesty, I agree with the third type."

"Why?"

"Your Majesty, for the first plan, I have the same opinion as Lord Ye. The second plan is not advisable, because it is not at the beginning of corruption, but has reached the stage of corruption. It is not enough to destroy a net, and killing one will not scare the hundred. Although the third method is novel, it is feasible. It is like a person who is sick all over the body. The only thing a doctor can do is to ensure his life first. Be safe, no new symptoms will appear, wait until the old wounds are under control, and then slowly figure it out. Your Majesty’s third method can dispel officials’ concerns about corruption and maintain the current operation of the government. It is also a bottom line, tell them, so far, those who cross the line will be killed. In this way, it will start from a small number of timid people, and slowly transition to the majority of people obeying order. Righteousness, Xia Liang will naturally follow suit.”