The six-dimensional pictures of emperors of all dynasties were exposed, and the ancestors panicked

Chapter 749: Frugality Cannot Save the Qing Dynasty

A table was spread out on the ceiling.

The table is divided into three columns vertically.

The column on the left shows the income of officials before Yongzheng’s reforms.

"Legal wages + illegal income such as illegal practices"

The middle column shows the income of officials after the fire consumption of Emperor Yongzheng was confiscated by the public.

"Legal salary + maintenance money"

The column on the right shows the income of officials during the Daoguang reform.

"Legal wages + anti-corruption money + various new illegal and shady incomes"

……

【According to Yongzheng's idea of ​​"high salary to maintain integrity", officials' corruption is due to low salary. With the money to maintain integrity, officials should no longer collect corrupt fees. 】

[A provincial governor's annual salary of more than 10,000 taels of silver is enough to spend.]

【But this is obviously not the case.】

[When Yongzheng was alive, the money for maintaining integrity did play a role in encouraging honesty and reducing the burden on the people.]

[But like all anti-corruption systems in history, it quickly became ineffective over time.]

[During the Qianlong period, officials immediately invented new names and began to collect new illegal rules.]

[In the middle and late Qianlong period, the atmosphere in the officialdom had completely returned to the state before the Yongzheng reforms, or even worse.]

[During the Daoguang reign, the situation once again became out of control.]

[As time went by, the salary became a regular income, no different from the statutory salary.]

[Officials continued to develop new sources of income. They collected new and corrupt money, and the amount they collected increased, exceeding the amount of money they were supposed to pay for maintaining integrity by several times.]

【Everyone is receiving high salaries, but they continue to engage in corruption. 】

……

Song Dynasty Xiaozong Period
Zhao Shen is a little confused now.

Because after his father's governance, the current situation of the Song Dynasty is no different from that of the Qing Dynasty.

The only difference is that the officials of the Song Dynasty still have some dignity.

But it is obvious that the corruption problem in the bureaucratic system cannot be solved by relying on high salaries, and severe laws and punishments are still indispensable.

But it is not acceptable to implement harsh laws and punishments as severe as Zhu Yuanzhang's.

"There are wolves in front and tigers behind."

A stubborn mind leads to a blockage in both ends.

Zhao Shen was thinking about which minister could solve this problem.

You still have to walk on two legs.

On the one hand, high salaries are used to maintain integrity, while on the other hand, corruption is punished severely.

……

Ming dynasty.

"Just like his father, so naive."

Zhu Yuanzhang stuffed grapes in his mouth and muttered:

"These princes, they still need to go to the common people to gain some experience."

Zhu Biao was holding a bowl of Tremella soup. The heat rose up and down as the spoon stirred. He took in the aroma and pondered:

"There is some rationality in Yongzheng's decision to return the fire consumption to the public, because the previous statutory salary was too low."

Zhu Yuanzhang rolled his eyes at him and said nothing.

Zhu Biao looked at the bowl of porridge in his hand and continued:
"But the standard of silver for maintaining integrity after the fire consumption was returned to the public was already very high. The income level of local officials in the Qing Dynasty was higher than that of the Song Dynasty, which was famous for its high salaries."

"Not only is it enough for officials to live a decent and comfortable life, but it can also support a large group of servants."

"But even so, it still doesn't work, which shows that the so-called high salaries to maintain integrity are only a temporary measure."

Zhu Yuanzhang muttered quietly:

"That's an unrealistic fantasy..."

Queen Ma couldn't help but secretly poke him.

Zhu Yuanzhang shut up again.

Zhu Biao frowned and said:

"And look at Daoguang's thoughts..."

"His so-called 'returning the fire consumption to the public' is simply a surrender to corruption."

"They just want officials to use some of their corruption income to fill the deficit, so as to avoid paralysis of the national finances."

"This is pure fantasy."

“Without strict legal enforcement, this move is bound to fail.”

……

[Officials said they could not accept the emperor's intention to reduce everyone's income.]

[Among the officials in the capital, the heads of the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites expressed strong opposition in memorials.]

[At the local level, the three governors-general openly opposed it, and the other six governors-general also opposed it secretly, and no one submitted a petition in support. ]

[There were only nine governors-general in the Qing Dynasty, who were in charge of the four frontiers and held high positions of power. If the reform measures were opposed by the nine governors-general, it would basically be impossible to carry out.]

【Moreover, the most powerful governors of Zhili and Liangjiang both openly opposed it.】

[Zhili Governor Fang Shouchou and Sichuan Governor Jiang Youwei went directly to Beijing to oppose it.]

……

Qing Dynasty and Qianlong period
The ministers who had gathered in the Hall of Supreme Harmony had only one thought in their minds.

destroyed!

This idea became even stronger when I saw the real Qianlong with white hair and youthful face.

Especially since the emperor has a powerful weapon given by Tianmu.

That's true longevity.

Just when the ministers were in a panic.

Qianlong just glanced at the sky, then said:

"I called you here today to discuss something."

"Regarding the establishment of a government in England and the capital."

Shocking!

……

【Faced with opposition from all sides of the government, Daoguang was in a dilemma. If he continued to push forward, he would offend the entire officialdom, and it would not be possible to carry it out. What should he do?】

【Finally, just three months later, Emperor Daoguang decided to give in and sacrificed his pawns to save his chariot. He issued an edict saying: Yinghe was ignorant of the local situation and made rash suggestions, disrupting the government. He is now dismissed from his post as the Grand Councilor and the investigation into outdated rules is stopped.】

……

{An essential skill for an emperor: passing on the blame.}
{After all, he is not Yongzheng, and does not have Yongzheng's indomitable spirit.}
{Regarding Daoguang's governing ability, the late Qing writer Li Boyuan recorded it in "Nanting Notes".}
{It implicitly implies that although Daoguang has good character, he lacks ability.}
{Don't read too much of what those corrupt scholars wrote. As soon as he came to power, Emperor Daoguang implemented a policy of streamlining administration and limiting the number of civil servants in government offices and cutting redundant staff.}
{By the tenth year of Emperor Daoguang's reign (1830), more than officials had been dismissed.}
{Secondly, control donations and restrict the governors and their subordinates from making arbitrary supplements.}
{As we all know, selling official positions was an open policy of the Qing Dynasty, with the purpose of subsidizing fiscal revenue. But this policy would undoubtedly openly encourage corruption. Emperor Daoguang carried out limited reforms, not eliminating donations, but also prohibiting current officials from donating titles.}
{Then the management of the Zongrenfu was strengthened. The Zongrenfu was the institution that managed the royal affairs. Daoguang felt that the royal children were becoming increasingly corrupt, so he focused on strengthening their management and improving the quality of the royal children.}
{In the fourth year of Daoguang's reign (1824), the Imperial Clan Court sent some of the royal family's children to frontier areas for training to reduce their harm to society.}
{Finally, set a time limit for hearing the case.}
{Delayed handling of cases was a common problem in the Qing Dynasty officialdom. Many cases were piled up for a long time, resulting in many people dying in prison.}
{Daoguang believed that this situation would lead to the destruction of many families and increase their hatred of society. If it could not be effectively handled, it would be very detrimental to the Qing Dynasty.}
{So he set a time limit for hearing cases. The government offices in the capital must close the case within one month, and the government offices in prefectures and counties must close the case within 20 days.}
{The supervisor's reply must be submitted within one month. If the Ministry of Justice reviews the case, it must be closed within ten days, twenty days, or thirty days depending on the circumstances of the case.}
{For capital cases, the decision must be made within 70 days from the time the report is received to the time the sentence is passed, and the waiting period is limited to 80 days.}
{You can say that he is bad at employing people, but his abilities are really not bad.}
{If he hadn't encountered a dimensionality reduction attack, he would have been the master of maintaining the status quo.}
……

The period of Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty
Liu Bingyi looked at the various systems in the sky and agreed:

"Just looking at these measures, Daoguang was definitely not a freeloader."

“Although there is nothing new, they are all practical measures.”

"It's just a pity..."

Liu Bingyi thought of the overseas countries that were still shrouded in mystery.

Daoguang's misfortune was that he not only had to deal with restless forces at home.

We also have to deal with overseas forces that are in a period of expansion.

"The sun never sets..."

Liu Bingyi kept repeating these three words.

Even crazier than me, the big man.

……

【The reform was stopped before it even started, but the problem of fiscal deficit still exists.】

[Daoguang thought about it and finally, after discussing with his respected teacher, the Neo-Confucian master Cao Zhenyong, he came to the conclusion:
The only solution to the fiscal deficit is to cut costs, and the first task of cutting costs is for the emperor to set an example for the country and encourage everyone to cut costs.

【To this end, Emperor Daoguang issued the "Imperial Edict on the Protection of Sounds, Colors, Money and Profits" and put forward three basic principles of frugality. 】

[1. Value righteousness over profit and do not be greedy for money.]

[All the people of the country should save together. The emperor should save, the ministers should save, and the common people should save.]

【Daoguang said: "If the people are not rich, how can I, the emperor, be rich?" If the emperor is not rich, how can the ministers dare to be rich? So, let's save together. 】

……

The period of Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty
Liu Qi squatted at the edge of the field and poked the little Liu Che who was lying on the ground beside him.

"Che'er, do you think what he said makes sense?"

Little Liu Che was almost dead from exhaustion. He lay on the ground with his eyes closed to rest and said weakly:

"It makes sense."

"Frugal? That's what my grandfather did, too."

Liu Qi nodded. "Since it makes sense, we should also set an example."

Little Liu Che opened his eyes suddenly!
Something is wrong!
"Then your food should be reduced."

Little Liu Che raised his head and looked at Liu Qi in disbelief.

Are you talking human language?

I just like to eat some pig's trotters?!

You and your mother ate all the pork!

"From now on, it will be reduced from three pig's trotters to two."

Liu Qi raised two fingers and said with a smile:
"But if you can cultivate half an acre of land within three hours, I will give you another pig's trotter."

Little Liu Che lay back weakly.

What are you doing?

"it is good……"

So annoying!
Liu Qi stroked his beard and laughed.

Still fun for kids.

but……

Liu Qi looked at the sky, thinking about something.

Frugality... does it really work?

……

【2. All provinces cease paying tribute.】

[During the Jiaqing period, the emperor ordered to stop the tribute. Later, his ministers changed the policy and believed that paying tribute of jewelry was a luxury, so paying tribute of some local specialties was always reasonable. ]

[Now Daoguang said that even local specialties no longer needed to be paid as tribute. He even complained that these local specialties were worthless, but were praised to the skies by the ministers.]

[No matter what, these are things that belong to ordinary people. Not accepting gifts can help ordinary people save some money.]

[Moreover, it takes a lot of manpower and material resources to transport these local specialties from the countryside to Beijing.]

……

Later Tang Dynasty: Mingzong Period
"Success comes from diligence and thrift, and failure comes from extravagance."

Li Siyuan felt that this poem by Li Shangyin fully expressed the philosophy of our ancestors' entrepreneurship.

"If you can achieve this, you will surpass the sixth or seventh level emperor."

He looked at Guo Wei and little Zhao Kuangyin who were reading.

“But unfortunately the timing is not right.”

"These icing on the cake measures are useless in the overall situation."

……

Later Zhou Dynasty: Emperor Shizong's reign
Guo Rong looked at this and thought of his father.

"Our ancestors braved frost and dew, and cut through thorns to establish their own territory."

"He still has the appearance of a wise ruler."

"But at this time, reform is urgently needed, and these are indeed trivial matters."

He flipped through the Analects and other books in his hand, and suddenly he understood.

Such articles are indeed the principles of governing the world.

This book can be used to bring peace to the world and maintain order.

Seeking change or order in troubled times is useless here.

……

【3. No more palaces or pavilions will be built in the future.】

[Daoguang said: The imperial palace is already quite luxurious, there is no need to add a single brick or tile. Whoever proposes to build a large-scale project in the future will be a sinner of the Qing Dynasty and should be severely punished.]

【Based on this frugality concept, the "New Frugal Policy" was launched. 】

……

On the canopy.

Wearing patched clothes, Daoguang sat on the dragon throne.

And the fat and bloated ministers below were also wearing patched official uniforms.

……

【As for this policy, officials at all levels expressed that the emperor was wise and that they had no objection at all.】

【Emperor Daoguang set an example and set strict standards for himself.】

[He reduced the annual palace expenditure of 400,000 taels of silver by half to 200,000 taels per year.]

[The emperor's daily expenses were all kept simple, and his writing brushes, inkstones, paper, and inkstones were all common items, not specially made.]

[Not only that, he also stipulated that, except for the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress, concubines and palace staff were not allowed to eat meat except on festival days.]

[Concubines are not allowed to use cosmetics or wear fancy clothes. ]

[The reception for the Queen's birthday was also very simple, with each person having a bowl of noodles with gravy.]

……

{Daoguang actually attached great importance to the Empress. In the past, Daoguang stipulated that no celebrations would be held for his birthday or the Empress’ birthday.}
{Later, an exception was made to celebrate the Queen's birthday. On the Queen's birthday, all civil and military officials sent gifts to celebrate her birthday.}
{Although each person had one bowl of noodles with gravy, afterward, the ministers were actually very grateful to Daoguang because they heard that Daoguang had asked the imperial kitchen to slaughter two pigs for this banquet, which was unprecedented.}
{The queen was even happier, for she discovered that the emperor loved her so much that Daoguang, who usually saved every penny, actually slaughtered two fat pigs just to celebrate her birthday.}
{Hahahahahahahaha! I can’t stop laughing!}

{You said he really loved me... I always feel it's funny. You said he didn't really love me, but he did bleed a lot.}
……

[On weekdays, the emperor only ordered four dishes per meal, and court officials' working meals were not allowed to have more than four dishes.]

[When officials from other places came to Beijing to report on their work, the emperor would give a banquet to commend those who were diligent and capable.]

[However, during the Daoguang era, the emperor's banquet was only a political honor, and officials had to pay for their own meals when they were given a banquet.]

[Emperor Daoguang set an example by practicing frugality, and officials at all levels followed his example and promoted a frugal culture.]

[According to the "Miscellaneous Records of the Court and the Country since the Daoguang and Xianfeng Periods", the emperor continued to wear old clothes, and the ministers also changed into old clothes.]

[The emperor would patch up his trousers if they had a hole in them and continue to wear them, and court officials would also patch up their own clothes.]

[The imperial assemblies during the Daoguang reign were much like beggars' gang meetings. At a glance, everyone, from those sitting on the dragon throne to those kneeling on the ground, were all in tattered clothes, looking like beggars.]

……

{It was actually Cao Zhenyong who pushed Daoguang's frugal politics to a climax.}
{Cao Zhenyong's personality is very similar to Daoguang's, and he is also a person who spends every penny carefully.}
{He had a broken donkey cart at home, and his cook was responsible for driving the cart in addition to cooking. He would go to the vegetable market every day to bargain with the vendors.}
{Because he knew that many vendors would cheat on the weight, he brought his own scale.}Can such a person help the emperor govern the country? The same is true for the emperor. Frugality can only improve oneself, but it cannot be turned into a trivial hobby.

{Daoguang often summoned Cao Zhenyong to the palace for long talks, and the most discussed topic every day was frugality.}
{One day, Cao Zhenyong entered the palace, and Emperor Daoguang found two patches on his knees, so he asked him how much he spent on the two patches.}
{Cao Zhenyong replied that he spent five coins of silver.}
{When Emperor Daoguang heard this, he stamped his feet and said, "Why did I spend five taels of silver just to make a patch?"}
{Cao Zhenyong said: "The patches on the emperor's clothes are of course exquisitely made, and must be more expensive than mine!"}
{From then on, Emperor Daoguang ordered his concubines to learn needlework, thus saving this expense.}
……

The period of Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty
Liu Heng frowned.

Liu Qi was so amused by what he saw that he pointed at the sky and was about to say something when he saw Liu Heng's face change.

He instantly stopped smiling and asked in a low voice:

"Father, is there something wrong?"

Liu Heng relaxed his brows and sighed:

"Daoguang followed the Confucian way of the sage king."

“That’s invaluable.”

"But I think his frugality is a bit paranoid."

“Frugality can only improve oneself, but should not be turned into a trivial hobby.”

Liu Heng glanced at Liu Heng and said softly:
"The emperor and his ministers often have long talks, but they don't discuss state affairs."

“I don’t know what’s important and what’s not.”

"What the superior likes, the subordinates will like even more."

"Do you think that ministers would do their best to curry favor with Emperor Daoguang in order to gain official positions?"

……

[When Emperor Daoguang was looking at the patched bodies of the civil and military officials in the court with a sense of accomplishment, he never expected that the prices of worn-out clothes in the second-hand clothing stores in Beijing were constantly rising.]

【Initially, the price of used clothes was much lower than that of new clothes.】

[But as demand grew, used clothes soon became as expensive as new ones.]

[Some officials took their new clothes to second-hand clothing shops and exchanged them for old clothes to wear.]

【Later, the price of the old clothes increased rapidly and even exceeded the price of two new clothes.】

[Some officials put patches on their new clothes and smeared greasy substances on their sleeves to show that they were in line with the court in maintaining frugality.]

[The emperor's frugal behavior in the court and the ministers' deliberate imitation did not change the operating mode of the entire bureaucratic mechanism. ]

[The "hush money" in the Qing Dynasty officialdom was popular during the Daoguang period, and was called selling memorials at the time.]

[Because if an official neglects his duties, breaks the law, engages in corruption, or has problems with his work style, the officials responsible for discipline inspection and supervision will compile the materials and prepare to report to the emperor.]

[At this point, the official will prepare a sum of money to keep him silent.]

[The virtue of frugality pursued by Emperor Daoguang eventually became a farce performed by the emperor and his ministers in tacit cooperation.]

[During this process, the emperor was the only one who was immersed in the drama, while the other ministers were just accompanying actors and spectators.]

Daoguang clearly explained the limitations of imperial Confucian scholarship.

……

Now the pre-trial takes half an hour every day...

It used to be done in seconds...



(End of this chapter)