My life is like walking on thin ice

Chapter 521: Progress in Thought
As the saying goes: Everything is afraid of careful consideration.

It's not because most things can't stand up to scrutiny, but because most things that people are accustomed to and integrated into instinct and subconscious cognition can easily become something else because of in-depth thinking.

For example, Emperor Taizong Xiaowen.

In the subconscious of the world, or in other words, the stereotype, Emperor Taizong Xiaowen is a living saint, a sage monarch who has no faults at all.

As long as you don't think about it too much, this understanding will not be shaken in the slightest.

——Emperor Taizong was a sage monarch, what is there to say?

——What’s there to think about?

But if you are not careful and think carefully about this person's life, you will smell something different.

In the third year of Emperor Taizong’s reign, a decisive battle against the Huns?
King of Jibei Liu Xingju rebelled?

Wow - it turns out that this guy was a passionate young man at the beginning!

When Zhou Bo was the prime minister, Emperor Taizong said, "The marquises are all staying in Chang'an and are unwilling to return to their fiefdoms. The prime minister should set an example for the marquises." He then drove Zhou Bo out of Chang'an and the central government.

Just this kind of scheming, just this kind of means.

Tut tut...

Naturally, when talking about Emperor Taizong Xiaowen, we have to mention the great general who was a relative of the emperor and "died at his own funeral": Bo Zhao, Marquis of Chen.

What kind of king could come up with the idea of ​​forcing his uncle to death by making all the officials cry like a living funeral?
If one plan fails, he might even go a step further - setting up a mourning hall himself, summoning his uncle, and letting his uncle commit suicide in the mourning hall?

Is this something a human can do?
Is this something carbon-based organisms can think of?

I can only say that the city knows how to have fun.

From the above "careful consideration" and counterintuitive realities, it is not difficult to find that for many things, as long as you think about them carefully, you will definitely get different results.

——In the stereotype of later generations, Emperor Taizu Gao was an unlearned rogue, a scoundrel, and an old gangster who defeated Xiang Yu and seized the world by luck.

But after careful consideration, we can find that the Han family not only does not reject such stereotypes, but even secretly fuels them and creates such public opinion.

why?
To consolidate rule.

In order to make Emperor Taizu Gao, Liu Bang, a man of destiny who was "useless and was simply chosen by God to become the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty";
Rather than a practical person who has outstanding talents and achieves success through hard work.

The difference between the two is that the Man of Destiny does not actually exist, so the Han family can use public opinion to make everyone give up their unrealistic fantasies because of the realization that "I am not the Man of Destiny".

On the other hand, there are many practical people - heroes in the world are as numerous as carp crossing the river, and there are many who are talented, virtuous, and even both talented and virtuous.

If Emperor Taizu Gao, Liu Bang, was not a man of destiny who was 'bad enough but still could not defy the will of heaven', but a very powerful person, the Han family would have had a lot of headaches.

I don't know how many ambitious people would have the thought "I can do it too", and then each of them would display their abilities and talents, but not to build the world, but to emulate Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang and become the second Pei Gong.

The Han family never takes the initiative to talk about these things, but always does them silently.

Gradually, silently, the Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang was "blackened" from his original and most authentic "wise and brave" image to a good-for-nothing, purely lucky scoundrel.

All of these require careful consideration to taste the flavor.

The issue of official corruption raised by this slavery case is actually the same.

——In the past, everyone took it for granted that officials’ corruption was as normal as animals needing to drink water.

But if you think about it carefully, you will find that the taste is not right.

Eh, no.

Why?

Why do officials have to be greedy and take things when they become officials?
Is it just to fit in, or is it because it’s better to be not greedy?

In this regard, Zhao Yu, the contemporary core representative of the Legalists in Dali, seems to have his own unique insights.

"During the reign of Emperor Taizong Xiaowen, Emperor Taizong once intended to severely punish a passerby who disturbed his imperial carriage."

"The then Minister of Justice, Zhang Shizhi, said to Emperor Taizong: This is the law, and it is enough."

"Emperor Taizong agreed with Zhang Tingwei's opinion and, according to the provisions of the Han Dynasty Law, fined the passerby four ounces of gold for accidentally disturbing the emperor's carriage."

"I believe that Zhang Shizhi's words, 'The law is sufficient as it is,' are the truth that all the court officials of the Han Dynasty should regard as a golden guide."

"Specific to this matter, the same is true..."

Liu Rong was naturally completely confident in Zhao Yu, the Dali Qing.

As for Zhao Yu's legal stance, Liu Rong also became more and more appreciative.

——Unlike the extremely harsh laws of the Qin Dynasty, which advocated "strict and severe punishment for everything", today's Legalists are constantly reflecting on the experiences and lessons of the Qin Dynasty.

After decades of reflection and summary, the Legalist concept of law was gradually established in Zhao Yu's generation and was summarized into Zhang Shizhi's famous saying: The law is sufficient as it is.

This is what the law stipulates, so we should act in accordance with the law.

This sentence can almost be said to be a prehistoric version of "if there are laws to follow, they must be followed."

Liu Rong was naturally pleased that the Legalists had such ideological awareness.

Zhao Yu's subsequent words also made Liu Rong feel relieved and he couldn't help but look forward to the future of the Legalists.

"I also have a few humble opinions on the issue of corruption and bribery among officials."

Zhao Yu's words made everyone present look serious and they all looked at Zhao Yu.

Even Liu Rong symbolically sat up straighter.

Zhao Yu cleared his throat, hesitated for a moment, and then said in a deep voice: "The problem of corruption and bribery among officials is not limited to officials."

"From the imperial court in Chang'an to the officials in the capital, to the officials in the counties, to the maids in the palace, to the doormen and servants in the homes of the nobles;"

"——Whenever someone comes to visit, I will ask for an audience, give advice, or even speak well of them."

"Giving bribes to the trustees has long been a customary practice in our Han family, and everyone abides by it."

"If someone comes to someone's house to ask for a favor, but doesn't pay a bribe according to these established rules, they will be said to be ignorant of the rules and even to be ignorant of worldly matters."

"Especially during the reign of Emperor Taizong, General Zhang Wu accepted bribes, but Emperor Taizong did not punish him but rewarded him with 500 gold coins to 'make him feel guilty'. Since then, the trend of accepting and offering bribes in our Han family has become more and more serious."

"Today, it has even reached the point where they are not shy about it in broad daylight."

···
"So in my opinion, if we want to solve the problem of corruption and bribery among officials, we should not only consider 'how to make officials honest', but also consider: how to change the atmosphere inside and outside the court, in the local county government offices, and even in the whole world."

“Otherwise, even if we use some extraordinary means to prevent officials from corruption and bribery, it will not last long.” “After all, the trend of bribery and corruption has been around for a long time - if ten people are corrupt and one is honest, the one who is wrong may be the honest person...”

Zhao Yu naturally thought about and considered the words he was going to say today for a long time.

Even until today, Zhao Yu still made some temporary adjustments to his wording.

But to sum up, Zhao Yu's opinion can be summed up in one sentence: corruption among officials is not an isolated case, but a trend.

If we want to change the current situation, we cannot rely solely on anti-corruption, or on punishment and prisons, but we should change the atmosphere and solve the problem from the root.

This proposition is not small.

But for Liu Rong, even if it is such a huge proposition, it can be considered a good thing as long as someone can take the initiative to propose it.

——After all, the fact that someone dares to speak out shows that this problem has not yet become so serious as to make everyone afraid to speak out, and if they do, the whole world will rise up and attack them.

As for the situation described by Zhao Yu, it is basically in line with reality.

In today's Han Dynasty, let alone asking someone to do something for you - even an ordinary visit from someone else would exude the rotten smell of the word "bribery" from beginning to end.

For example, a Chehou wants to visit another Chehou, or an official wants to chat with one of his colleagues and have a meal at the same time.

At this time, when the marquis or official visits his friend or colleague who is also a marquis or official, he needs to "bribe" the other party's doorman.

It should be noted that the "bribery" here does not have any special, additional purpose.

It was just to allow the doorman to perform his job normally and go in to report: So-and-so is here to visit.

So, what is the host's attitude towards this obvious behavior of ripping off guests?
——You have to give it!
——How can you not give it to me?
Even my doorman, according to the customary rules, asked you for a small red envelope, but you, as a noble and an official, were unwilling to give it;

Then what benefit can I gain from associating with you?

Besides, the prime minister’s doorman is a seventh-rank official. My family’s doorman is my face!
But you don't take my face into consideration, and think that my face is not worth these few coins?

What else is there to say?

Please go back.

I don't want to deal with a miser who is so stingy that he won't even give the doorman money.

How can I describe this strange trend...

Just outrageous.

In most of the time, and even in most situations when we interact and get along with people, bribery and corruption are no longer acts that are primarily about transferring economic benefits, but are linked to aspects such as politeness, decency, and mutual respect.

——If you come to visit me and don’t give money to my doorman, it would be impolite and look down on me!
I don't care how much you give!
I don’t care what my doorman does with the money.

I just want your attitude of being willing to pay, to have this decency and this face.

As for the money you gave me - I am a respectable person after all, how could I ask the doorman to hand it over?
This is the magical part about the prevailing trend of bribery and corruption in the Han Dynasty.

——Economic interests are no longer the core factor in bribery or corruption.

The prevailing bribery culture in the Han Dynasty has now begun to evolve into bribery for the sake of bribery.

Just like in later generations, when one’s health was damaged due to alcoholism and one had to take medicine to maintain health, one still had to use a wine mask to hold the medicine in the bottle.

In the present Han Dynasty, these officials and nobles who are embroiled in bribery are clearly not short of that little money, nor do they value that little money, but they still engage in bribery and corruption.

——I can not want it, but you can’t not give it to me.

——I didn’t want it, but you gave it to me. This is respect.

On the contrary, if I don’t want it and you don’t give it to me, it means you are ignorant;
I asked for it and you gave it to me, which is disgraceful of me.

If I ask for it and you don't give it to me, that would be very disrespectful to me. There is a high probability that our two families will become enemies and will never make peace until we die.

So, yes that's right.

Today, the bribery culture in the Han Dynasty has begun to show a formalistic color.

Bribery and corruption have begun to become a form of expression that has more symbolic significance than practical significance, and is more of an expression of attitude than a form of transferring economic benefits.

I'm sure no one will fail to understand what this means.

——When something begins to develop a formalistic color, it only means that this thing has already been deeply rooted in the current era.

In the Han Dynasty today, bribery is prevalent, even worse than in the new era of later generations, among the blue-haired and blue-eyed Commissioner Smith.

And this Shanglin Banquet has already made Liu Rong feel satisfied.

Because everyone started thinking.

Everyone is still willing to think.

After the slavery case, although everyone's instinctive reaction was to resist change and maintain the original order, the thinking that followed also ushered in an ideological progress in the Han Dynasty's political arena.

At the same time, the court system is willing to think about problems and the right and wrong of corruption and bribery, instead of maintaining the old order regardless of the consequences. This also shows, to a certain extent, that the court administrative system is not rotten to the core and is not beyond redemption.

Therefore, Liu Rong finally revealed his true intentions and gave his final solution to the slavery case and the subsequent "official corruption problem".

——Increase salary.

As I said before: Officials’ corruption is due to human greed, but there are also some officials, or even a considerable number of officials, who have to be corrupt due to the pressure of life.

The half-money and half-grain salary distribution model for Han officials made the official remuneration system established in the early Han Dynasty become outdated and no longer adapted to the development of the times as grain prices plummeted.

Increasing the salaries of officials, increasing legal income, and rebuilding the official salary system of the Han Dynasty will certainly not completely eliminate the problem of corruption.

But at least it gives officials a new option.

If we say that in the past, some officials had to be corrupt in order to make a living, or even for the sake of "filial piety", and had to resort to corruption to barely make a living;
Then, after the salary system is rebuilt and officials have sufficient legal income to live on, they will have an additional option of "not being greedy" in their economic affairs options.

Granted, this option will not be chosen by everyone, and may not even be chosen by most people.

But at least there is a choice.

Some choices.

With this choice, officials who are unwilling to engage in corruption will have the possibility to remain clean and honest.

All of this was the positive impact that the slavery case and the subsequent ideological progress brought to the Han family.

(End of this chapter)