Northern Song Dynasty: Starting from the son of Song Renzong

Chapter 121 Eliminating redundant soldiers and officials

Eat your food bite by bite and walk your road step by step.

Anyway, let's let the math and craftsman team calculate how much it would cost to build a ten-mile long tram track.

In fact, compared to cement roads, it may be cheaper.

after all……

This wood wrapped in iron sheet is obviously simpler, at least in terms of the difficulty of obtaining materials.

morning.

Finished reviewing the memorials.

noon.

Take a short break.

in the afternoon.

And realize your various plans step by step.

Fortunately, there were not many major events like this in the following period of time.

The tram, after finally calculating the cost, seemed acceptable.

Zhao Xin gritted his teeth and asked the craftsman to do it.

In addition...

This tram also needs a design.

At least, it should look more high-end.

The team and players are also being formed.

Let's take two approaches.

The first plan is to see if there is a strong financial sponsor in Tokyo who is willing to sponsor a professional team.

The second plan is to allow the public to organize themselves spontaneously.

Therefore, in recent days, news about the Cuju match has spread to almost the entire city of Tokyo.

and also……

For example, some competition rules were also spread in this process.

Zhao Xin spent some money to get in touch with some store owners and asked them to help promote the competition. According to reports from the Imperial Guards, the people seemed to be quite interested in the competition.

mainly……

The champion can receive a total reward of 500 strings of cash.

Don't underestimate five hundred strings of cash; it is enough to buy two concubines of decent quality.

Even if the team is divided into eleven people, including substitutes, making it fifteen people, each person still earns thirty-three kan.

A top-level imperial guard only earns fifty strings of cash a year.

It is clear how attractive this competition is.

Of course!
Perhaps in the eyes of some other people, Zhao Xin's doing this kind of thing is a bit unprofessional.

For example, people like Fu Bi, Ouyang Xiu, Yu Jing, Wang Su, and Cai Xiang, they all don't quite understand. The country is in such a state now, and Your Highness the Prince of Yu is still developing entertainment projects here. Isn't that a bit too much?

Isn't it time that we tighten our belts and live frugally, and the whole country, starting with the government, should take the lead in practicing thrift?
Fortunately, most of these people are now working under Zhao Xin.

If they were working somewhere else and continued to submit petitions, they would probably be scolded by Zhao Xin again.

Zhao Xin then asked, "My father and I are frugal, but will the rich families in the city also be frugal? Will the officials also be frugal?"

"And if they save money and stop spending, will the people still be able to find jobs and make money?"

"The people already have no land, and you don't allow people to pay them to work. If they can't find work, they will starve to death."

"You want the rich and officials to save money, and then let the landless people starve to death?"

"Did a donkey kick your brain?"

Everyone: "..."

Zhao Xin added, "Rich people hide their earnings at home, dig a hole and bury the money. They don't use it. They tighten their belts and live frugally, not consuming a single piece of silk in a year. Who will the common people sell their silk to? If the silk cannot be sold, they won't even be able to buy salt. Do you think this is a good thing?"

"You can't just view the Cuju field as something for entertainment. It can be used to entertain the rich and provide jobs for the common people. That's the purpose of building it."

"Do you think I'm just like you guys, and I only know how to play?"

"shallow!"

Zhao Xin rolled his eyes at them.

Several people looked at each other.

You see!
I got scolded again! Afterwards, everyone drank together and discussed the matter for a while.

Ouyang Xiu asked, "Why do we always get scolded?"

Wang Su also said: "No, it's not us, it's you."

Cai Xiang also said: "That's right, I seldom get scolded."

Ouyang Xiu asked, "You guys, didn't you also think that His Royal Highness Prince Yu was messing around at the beginning?"

Wang Su said, "We thought so, but we didn't say it."

Ouyang Xiu: "But His Royal Highness Prince Yu obviously scolded you as well."

Cai Xiang said, "That is true. But it is because you spoke up that we are all scolded together!"

Ouyang Xiu took a sip of wine and continued, "It is really hard to figure out what is in the mind of His Royal Highness Prince Yu."

Wang Su: "I think I should watch more and talk less in the future."

Yu Jing, who had been silent, seemed to have finally figured it out. He said, "I think this work-for-relief program does have some potential. But..."

Ouyang Xiu asked, "Just what?"

Yu Jing: "It's just a drop in the bucket. Why don't you and I directly suggest to the government to reduce taxes and levies? Isn't that more direct?"

Everyone else looked at Yu Jing, and then said to him, "How about, An Dao, you go talk to His Royal Highness Prince Yu?"

Wang Su then said, "See if he scolds you or not."

Cai Xiang: "I thought this would definitely get me scolded."

Yu Jing: "...Why are you looking at me like that?"

Ouyang Xiu: "They just want to see if you will be scolded!"

After hearing what Ouyang Xiu said, Yu Jing also felt deflated.

after all……

Things like light taxes and low levies can only exempt you for one or two years at most, it is difficult to sustain it forever.

The country is full of problems these days.

Unfortunately……

However, it is difficult to find a practical way to really solve the problem.

"How about... talk to His Royal Highness Prince Yu and get rid of the redundant soldiers and officials?"

Yu Jing proposed this to everyone.

The other three people decisively avoided it and replied, "Go ahead and say what you want to say."

The main reason is that His Royal Highness Prince Yu cursed too harshly.

That little mouth is chattering.

Yu Jing was helpless when he saw that the three of them were scared.

Fine!

Then I'll go and pick it up.

The next day.

Yu Jing proposed to remove redundant soldiers and officials in front of everyone.

Everyone waited quietly for what would happen next.

His Royal Highness Prince Yu was very quiet.

He said calmly, "After the redundant soldiers are laid off, where will you place them?"

"There are still redundant officials. Where are you going to place them?"

These two questions stumped Yu Jing.

Zhao Xin added: "If you lay them off, they will lose their livelihoods. When they rebel later, will you be there to suppress them?"

"But... it's not impossible to do it. Anyway, Xuchang and Nanyang still need a large number of people. Since you like to talk about getting rid of redundant soldiers so much, then I'll leave it to you to do it. Get rid of those useless soldiers in the garrison and imperial guards."

"If things go wrong, I'll just fire you as a redundant official."

Yu Jing: "..."

Ouyang Xiu, Wang Su and Cai Xiang all looked serious.

I thought, this is terrible! I might as well get scolded.

(End of this chapter)