I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 370 National discussion, the battle for the ranking of scholars, farmers, industry and commerce!

On the fifth day of February, the weather is still cold.

Willow branches sprout buds, and peach trees bear flower buds one after another.

In Bianjing City, although the atmosphere of the New Year is gone, it is still lively.

Scholars in t-shirts carried book boxes on their backs and entered the school building, while Suo Huan (delivery boy) from restaurants and tea shops walked through the streets carrying food boxes.

Bu Di and Ma Di from the post station ran out of the Jinzou Courtyard carrying the newly released Di Bao, and carriages loaded with goods drove out of several city gates and headed to various places throughout the Song Dynasty.

Above the Bianhe River, sails and rafts are like clouds, and merchant ships are sailing into the distance.

In the new year, scholars, farmers, industry and commerce, and all walks of life are stepping out of the New Year and embarking on a new journey.

……

at the same time.

On the premise that they did not dare to start a war with the Song Dynasty, they could only apologize and compensate in a low voice.

Yelu Zongzhen put all the blame on Xiao Shu, the envoy, and Yelu Zhao, the deputy envoy.

Just as the monarchs and ministers of the Song Dynasty expected.

This gives rise to the meaning of "scholars ranked first, farmers second, workers third, and merchants last."

Then look for his theory.

"Scholars, farmers, industry and commerce, merchants are the first, scholars are second, workers are third, and farmers are last."

This time, the Liao Kingdom completely lost their control.

Qin and Han Dynasties.

In the eyes of scholars, "scholars, farmers, industry and commerce" is the correct order and cannot be changed.

"Scholars, farmers, industry and commerce, among the four people of the country, who is the leader and who is the leader?"

Shangguan Yun, the shopkeeper of Yun Brocade Silk Shop in the west of the city, when he was drunk, took a wolf hair and wrote a line on the screen of Fan Tower.

The term "scholars, farmers, industry and commerce".

However, with the prosperity of commerce, the status of merchants has also increased rapidly.

After the founding of the Song Dynasty.

At that time, the status of businessmen was the same as that of officials who had committed crimes, their sons-in-law, and even murderers, which was extremely humble.

Also.

As soon as he opened today's tabloid, he saw a headline that made him frown.

When Guan Zhong said this, he did not put it in order.

Shangguan said: Business is on the rise, and scholars are on the decline. It is inevitable that the court attaches great importance to business and despises scholars.

A letter of apology written by Emperor Yelu Zongzhen of the Liao Kingdom also reached Bianjing.

Early morning on the seventh day of February.

The status of a scholar has jumped to a level that cannot be compared with the other three statuses.

By chance, these words were seen by three scholars.

In the end, they all went to Kaifeng Mansion.

If they were merchants, their descendants would even be forced to fight in Baiyue or the Huns.

Liao's supplies worth 1.2 million ransoms have been successively delivered to the border settlement.

……

This article in the tabloid called on people all over the world to discuss how scholars, farmers, industry and commerce should be ranked under the current premise of the Song Dynasty's reform.

The term "scholars, farmers, industry and commerce" comes from "Guanzi·Xiaokuang". The original saying is: the four people, scholars, farmers, industry and commerce, are the stones (pillars) of the country and the people.

Yelu Zongzhen sent another 500 sheep to apologize to the Song Dynasty, hoping that both parties would jointly maintain peace, enhance commercial transactions, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.

He said that the two were good at making opinions and would use any means to deceive the emperor. This move seriously damaged the relationship between Song and Liao.

The Liao court will definitely punish him severely.

The two sides disagreed, argued to no avail, and took advantage of the drunkenness to fight.

Last night, Fan Lou.

Su Liang came to the Yushitai and made a pot of tea.

This result is basically expected.

"Boring! It's really boring!" Su Liang curled his lips.

It just explains the four common professions, namely: officials, farmers, workers, and businessmen.

However, since the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the status of scholars has been getting higher and higher.

The content of this title comes from a fight between a businessman and three scholars yesterday.

Sui and Tang Dynasties.

The children of businessmen were prohibited from taking part in the imperial examinations, and even powerful poets like Li Taibai could not take part in the imperial examinations.

However, in the current Song Dynasty.

The status of merchants has undergone earth-shaking changes, and their status has indeed long been higher than that of craftsmen and farmers.

In addition, the commercial tax of the Song Dynasty has exceeded the land tax.

The businessmen gradually became more cautious.

If it hadn't been for the promulgation of the luxury ban at the end of last year, businessmen's tails would have been raised to the sky.

Many businessmen think that——

It was because of them that the Reform Movement throughout the Song Dynasty achieved such fruitful results.

Su Liang thinks this ranking is very boring.

But civilian scholars, businessmen, landowners, and craftsmen don't think so.

They felt that after the Reform in the Song Dynasty, the status of scholars, farmers, industry and merchants had undergone tremendous changes.

Who stands in front.

Explain who is more important to the reform.

This kind of ranking involves everyone's future and must be fought for.

……

Near noon.

On the south side of Zhuquemen Street, opposite the Imperial Academy.

In a teahouse called "Sun Ji Bowl Tea".

A group of people were quarreling over the ranking of scholars, farmers, industry and commerce.

"At present, scholars are still the mainstay of our Song Dynasty, and their status is completely unshakable. I want to ask, do businessmen, craftsmen, and farmers know how to govern the country?"

"That's nonsense! Without merchants to pay a lot of business taxes, without farmers farming, without craftsmen making various utensils, how can scholars govern the country? Most scholar-officials just follow the opinions of the court and implement them, putting themselves on a Let’s wait until we become the prime minister to decide how to govern the country!”

"I think that under the All-Song Reform, the ranking of scholars, farmers, industry and commerce should indeed change. Merchants were ranked last. I really disagree. Commercial tax has surpassed land tax, and merchants must at least be ranked last among farmers. Front."

"Businessmen are ranked last. Don't you know it in your own hearts? Businessmen value profits and always put themselves first before the court. Only the scholars in the world have a sincere heart to serve the country and the people."

"Put me down! Is there any use for you? I can provide livelihood for the poor and unemployed, and open porridge shacks for the victims of disasters. If the imperial court comes to fight with Xixia or Liao, I am willing to donate tens of thousands of dollars to serve as military expenses. Can you?"

"Farming is the foundation of a country. People are indispensable at any time. Emphasis on agriculture has been the policy of all dynasties. Farmers come second. There is absolutely no problem!"

"How can farmers be ranked second? Although they are large in number, they are small in power. Scholars, workers, and merchants, who can't cultivate the land, there is no problem without them. The most indispensable thing in the Song Dynasty is farmers, those landlords They only promote themselves and create the worst and lowest value!”

"I think it's okay for businessmen to be ranked third, but if they are ranked first or second, I think it's a joke. No matter how much money they make, they are not as important as scholar-bureaucrats and officials, let alone farmers. Ranking farmers at the bottom is unfair. The blasphemy of the people of the world is forgetting their roots!”

……

Inside the teahouse.

Not all scholars, farmers, and businessmen were there, most of them were scholars.

But these scholars.

Some just want to be an official, some want to do business if their official career is not going well, some want to save money to buy land and want to be landlords, and some want to learn a craft and become a craftsman.

Others think that this matter, like the Agricultural Crafts Exhibition of Baijia College, may become a provincial examination question.

Therefore, I racked my brains to come up with a unique answer, and the arguments are very sufficient.

then.

Differences and contradictions arise.

Everyone seems to be competing for the ranking of scholars, farmers, and merchants.

In fact, which profession has more prospects and which profession can get more respect from people.

There was a quarrel in the teahouse, and no one was convinced.

Going by current trends, we can talk until at least the evening.

Fortunately, at Sun Kee Teahouse, you can get a pot of tea for ten grand and get unlimited water refills.

such an argument.

It doesn't just happen in one teahouse, nor ten, or twenty...

Instead, the entire Bianjing city's restaurants, tea shops, streets, and even some women started talking about this matter.

Reform throughout the Song Dynasty.

It gave the Song Dynasty a new atmosphere, but also brought new contradictions.

……

The scholars of the Song Dynasty.

After the quarrel, it was naturally time to write an article to prove your point of view. Everyone wants to become famous in Bianjing City during such a hot event.

Ever since.

Articles with different views appeared on the streets.

Countless people have copied and discussed it.

The peak season for book printing workshops, professional copyists, book shops, bookstalls and vendors has suddenly arrived.

There are even shops selling sesame seed cakes, flowers, and mutton soup.

I also bought a large number of tabloids for sale in the corner of the door, which was more profitable than my main business.

For a time, all kinds of comments were flying all over the place.

"The whole Song Dynasty was undergoing reforms, and the changes in merchants were very important. Only merchants were responsible for the wealth of the world and the goods that circulated in all directions."

"Determining national policies and ensuring people's livelihood are the foundation of the country and the embodiment of morality. No one can stand shoulder to shoulder with scholars!"

"Only craftsmen are the ones who create wonderful things and achieve perfection. Even though they are small, they are obvious, but their achievements will last for thousands of years."

“The world may be without scholars, businessmen, or workers, but it cannot be without farmers. Without farmers, there will be no food, and without food, there will be no life.”

……

A huge discussion broke out in Bianjing City.

Confucian scholars, merchants, craftsmen, actors, and even trackers and pickers on the dock all participated.

People all think——

Under the wave of reforms throughout the Song Dynasty, the court would tend to develop in which direction which profession had a higher status.

Should we continue to uphold the principle of kings and scholar-bureaucrats co-ruling the world? Is it physiocratic? Is it mercantile? Or heavy industry?

Everyone wants an answer.

The grand discussion among the people inevitably spread to the court.

Among them, the officials who paid the most attention to this matter were the officials.

Some officials defined this matter as——

[An important turning point in the reform of the entire Song Dynasty, the last hurdle that bound the Song Dynasty to become strong]

Officials asked one after another to follow the example of the ancients and hold a debate on the ranking of scholars, farmers, industry and merchants.

Just like the Shiquge Conference organized by Emperor Xuan of the Western Han Dynasty to further unify Confucianism.

The gathering of twenty-three Confucians from the Five Classics finally greatly improved the status of Confucian classics and strengthened the educational role of Confucianism in the common people.

Just like the White Tiger View Conference in which Emperor Zhang of the Eastern Han Dynasty further theologized Confucianism.

It took a month to combine the popular superstitions about prophecies at that time with the Confucian classics, and established the saying that "the king is the guide for his ministers" as the first of the three cardinal principles.

Just like the meeting of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism where Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty discussed the pros and cons of the three religions.

More than 2,000 eminent monks, famous Confucians, Taoists, and civil and military officials were summoned. Discuss the pros and cons of the three religions. Finally, we came to the conclusion: Confucianism comes first, Buddhism comes second, and Taoism is the highest.

……

Now, this matter is bigger than anything happening in the court at the moment.

Wen Yanbo, Zhang Fangping, Song Xiang, Ding Du and other ministers were also very interested in this matter.

They stated in their memorial: Only by clarifying the ranking order of scholars, farmers, industry and merchants can the entire Song Dynasty reform be orderly.

Rather than like this now.

While encouraging farmers to do business, they also provided various favorable measures to farmers; on the one hand, they changed the imperial examination system and implemented the three-partition method; on the other hand, they allowed scholars to find other ways out.

It seems that we just need to explain the matter clearly.

Only then will the reform of the entire Song Dynasty become clearer, and the future of the Song Dynasty will be clearer.

……

These days.

The Taiwanese admonishers did not express many opinions.

Because they will only express their attitudes and make suggestions on things they are sure of.

……

February 10th, afternoon.

Yushitai, Taiyuan, inside the courtyard.

Su Liang, Ouyang Xiu, Fan Zhen, He Tan, Zhao Peng, Han Jiang, Zhou Yuan, Lu Hui and other Taiwanese admonishers gathered together.

Lu Hui said angrily: "I really don't understand, what is the benefit of such a debate? What is the difference between scholars, farmers, industrialists, farmers, merchants, and scholars, merchants, farmers, scholars, and merchants, agricultural workers? Isn't this just a name?"

Fan Zhen shook his head.

"No. When the civil debate first started, it could still be called a battle over reputation, but now it is a battle over national policy!"

"Businessmen are dissatisfied with being ranked at the bottom, farmers don't want to be ranked after merchants, scholars don't want to lose their first place, and workers don't want to be ranked behind merchants. At present, in the eyes of everyone, this ranking determines the direction of the national policy of the court, and the court treats everyone equally It’s impossible, I’m afraid we have to find a winner!”

He Tan continued: "This is a problem for the court! The palms and backs of the hands are all flesh. How to determine it is probably difficult to satisfy everyone. This is like father, mother, wife, and children falling into the Bian River at the same time. What do you think? Which one should be saved first and which one should be saved last?”

Everyone couldn't help laughing when they heard He Tan's metaphor.

At this time.

Han Jiang stood up and said: "If I speak from the bottom of my heart, I think there is no problem in the order of scholars, farmers, industry and commerce. But if it is for the reform of the entire Song Dynasty, I think it should be scholars, merchants, farmers and workers. The Song Dynasty is what it is today, and the credit of the merchants is Obvious."

"I think scholars can be ranked last. Scholars and officials must be magnanimous. They should be farmers, merchants, and engineers!" Zhao Peng said.

Ouyang Xiu stroked his beard and said, "I would say that the best outcome would be for scholars, farmers, merchants, and workers. We can mention the status of merchants. As for craftsmen, craftsmen have little influence and have the least influence relatively speaking."

……

All the admonishing officials were talking about it.

At this time, Zhou Yuan looked at Su Liang, who had been silent, and asked, "Jing Ming, what do you think?"

"I feel that neither agriculture, industry nor commerce is important, or that they are all important."

Su Liang curled his lips.

"This debate is not of much value, and it will not be a turning point in the reform of the entire Song Dynasty. It is just a group of officials seeking fame and reputation. However, it is irreversible at the moment, and it is estimated that a result must be reached."

"I'm wondering what the final outcome of this matter should be, so that it won't affect the enthusiasm of all walks of life for the reform in the Song Dynasty!"

If the scholars are not at the head, the scholars will definitely be discouraged; if the merchants are still at the bottom, the mood of the merchants will also be disturbed.

This matter has been debated to such an extent that if it cannot be handled properly, big problems will definitely arise.

All the admonishers also fell into deep thought.

……

On February 12th, in the early morning, Chui Gong Hall.

Zhao Zhen summoned the Xianggong of the two prefectures and the three divisions, as well as the chief officials of the Academy, Yushitai, Jianyuan and Guange.

The purpose is naturally to discuss the ranking dispute between scholars, farmers, industry and commerce.

This time.

Zhang Fangping, Song Xiang, Ding Du, and officials from the palace were the main force.

They all suggested: follow the example of the ancients and have a debate on the ranking of scholars, farmers, industry and commerce.

In this regard, Zhao Zhen asked the ministers for their opinions, and everyone had no objections.

Su Liang also supported the proposal.

The fastest way to resolve this matter at present is to first argue for a result.

As for Su Liang, he had not yet thought about how to solve the problem.

At this time.

Song Xiang cupped his hands and said: "Officials, if this matter only involves the court, I think it is all a debate among scholars. We should recruit the best debaters from all over the world and select the best to argue this matter together. I suggest that this ranking debate be in It’s best to do it after one month!”

After hearing Song Xiang's suggestion, all the officials were very excited.

During the periods of Taizu, Taizong, and Zhenzong, there were no debates on this scale. If it could be concluded successfully, it would surely become a good story passed down from generation to generation.

Zhao Zhen nodded.

"I think this is indeed the case. In this way, no matter what the result is, once a conclusion is reached, it will be notified to the whole Song Dynasty, and everyone must accept it."

……

On that day, Zhongshu issued an edict.

The debate on the ranking of scholars, farmers, industry and commerce will be held on March 15th.

Throughout the Song Dynasty, prefectures and prefectures from all over the country could recommend well-known and respected people with different views to come to Bianjing for debate.

Zhongshu will be solely responsible for the selection of personnel and will make a public announcement.

For a while.

The people in Bianjing City were very excited, and the debate over the ranking of scholars, farmers, industry and commerce entered a new climax.

These days.

The business of the teahouse is better than that of Goulanwashe, and the folk tabloids on the street are selling like crazy, making more money than those businessmen who open warehouses.

The style of debate was already prevalent in the Song Dynasty.

This incident was like a big stone dropped on a calm lake, causing ripples that quickly spread from Kaifeng Mansion to various state capitals.

Some government officials even sighed and teased the Reform Department.

"What is the All-Song Reform? It is not that a dozen people in one yamen give orders and everyone else must obey. It is that within the entire Song Dynasty, everyone participates and everyone can make suggestions. Now, it is the real All-Song Reform!"

(End of this chapter)