Northern Song Dynasty: Starting from the son of Song Renzong

Chapter 193 Punishing Corruption
Bribery and corruption, embezzlement and corruption can be said to have always been difficult problems in national governance.

In order to avoid any major conflicts with Madam Zhang, Zhao Xin wanted to accept the gift from her.

But the problem is...

If even he is so unprincipled, then when he becomes an official, what reason will he have to prevent those below him from taking bribes and engaging in corruption?

How good can the Song Dynasty be in the future?
Even if you want to punish corrupt officials in the future, you will have less confidence than others.

Zhao Xin asked Chen Yuanyuan directly: "What do you think I should do next?"

Rather than asking Chen Yuanyuan, this question was more about seeing Chen Yuanyuan's attitude when faced with bribes.

Chen Yuanyuan first observed Zhao Xin's expression, and roughly understood Zhao Xin's attitude.

Then he said, "If Your Highness does not accept Madam Zhang's gift, it will offend Madam Zhang."

"But if you accept it, Your Highness will have to ask for an official position for Madam Zhang's uncle."

Zhao Xin then asked: "Which one do you think is the most harmful to me?"

Chen Yuanyuan said: "Of course it is to ask for an official position for Madam Zhang's uncle."

Zhao Xin: “Why do you say that?”

Chen Yuanyuan said, "What Madam Zhang wants is the Envoy of the Southern Court of Xuanhui, and this Envoy of the Southern Court of Xuanhui is usually only responsible for banquets. Needless to say, the other party is just after the money."

"Isn't this just like giving money to this lady's uncle for nothing?"

"You took two bottles and wanted to exchange them for a lot of money, and it's your future money, Your Highness."

"This deal is not a good deal no matter how you look at it."

"Besides... Your Highness is afraid of Madam Zhang?"

Zhao Xin said, "I'm not really afraid, but... I have a kind heart and don't want to be an enemy to anyone."

Chen Yuanyuan said, "Then your Highness, I think you should change it."

Zhao Xin: “Oh?”

Chen Yuanyuan explained: "My mother said that sometimes you have to be a bad person, otherwise you won't be able to control the people under you."

Zhao Xin listened to what Chen Yuanyuan said.

He also hugged the other's waist and looked up and said, "What you said makes sense inexplicably!"

Actually...

Chen Yuanyuan was at least a head taller than him.

Zhao Xin also continued: "Sometimes, I am indeed too cowardly."

"It's just Madam Zhang!"

"She can't do anything to me."

"Just refuse it directly!"

……

And Chen Yuanyuan was suddenly hugged by him like this.

I couldn't help but blush.

and……

Chen Yuanyuan always felt a sense of guilt. After all, the prince was so young!

……

Early the next morning.

After the court meeting, Zhao Xin took the bottle with him, and when his father was leaving the court, he asked his father to go directly to Madam Miao's courtyard.

Immediately afterwards...

So he confronted his father.

"what is this?"

Zhao Zhen looked at the two jars and felt that they looked so much like the ones he had seen with his concubines.

Zhao Xin rolled his eyes at his father and said directly, "It was your wife Zhang who bribed me and wanted to give her uncle a gift to be the envoy of the Southern Court of Xuanhui."

When Zhao Zhen heard this, his expression changed immediately and suddenly became serious.

Zhao Xin continued, "If I don't accept it, it means I'm not giving her face, and she might hate me in the future. But if I accept it, how can I govern the country in the future? When the time comes, all the civil and military officials in the court will see that even I can accept bribes from others, so why can't they?"

"From now on, will there be any good in the officialdom of the Song Dynasty?"

"Dad, do you know why Emperor Taizong Wen was able to achieve the Zhenguan Reign?"

"That's because my Emperor Taizong Wen used a trap to enforce the law. He directly arranged for his trusted aides to bribe officials. In the end, he actually found someone who dared to accept bribes."

"Although his approach was later criticized by his minister Pei Ju, who said he shouldn't have done that. This is not what Confucius said, 'leading people with virtue and regulating them with propriety.'"

"But even if it was a mistake, the incident was enough to deter most officials, which led to the Zhenguan Reign."

"Throughout history, the quality of a country has been greatly influenced by its governance. In fact, the quality of a country can be judged by its governance."

"If even I, the top person, cannot set an example and accept bribes from the concubines in the harem, how far is the Song Dynasty from destruction?"

"As the saying goes, if the superior likes something, the subordinates will like it even more. Today I dare to accept the bribe from Madam Zhang. Tomorrow, all the other people will dare to bribe me."

"Then should I accept it or not?"

"Moreover... our Great Song has almost reached its peak."

"The wealth of the world has its limits. If we arrange for Uncle Zhang to share the money today and Uncle Li to share the money tomorrow, how much money and official positions can the Song Dynasty have to share among them?"

"The money comes from the people. If they get more, the people will have less. If the people have less, the world will be in chaos."

"By then, my Zhao family will be gone."

"Daddy, you have to take care of your concubines."

Zhao Zhen: "..."

Zhao Zhen wanted to beat Zhao Xin up. Why are you meddling in your father's concubines?
This guy!
Within three to five years, you will definitely go through Xuanwu Gate!

Seeing his father looking at him with contempt.

Zhao Xin also said: "How about I tell you, Dad, where is the current situation of our Song Dynasty?"

Zhao Zhen then said, "No need. Fortunately, your wings have grown stronger."

Zhao Xin then asked, "Dad, are you angry?"

Zhao Zhen replied: "I didn't."

Zhao Xin said: "You are just angry!"

Zhao Zhen: "..."

Zhao Xin: "What's there to be angry about? You and I are father and son, otherwise I wouldn't have said this to you, Dad. In fact...if Uncle Zhang can really help the country, that's fine."

"But what is this Xuanhui Southern Court Envoy? Does he have any ambitions? Isn't this just like the emperor giving me a certain amount of money every month to support me?"

"I plan to make money while lying down."

"Isn't this just like putting rats and termites in your own rice jar?"

"In view of this incident, I think that next, our Song Dynasty will have to take action to punish corruption."

"Didn't Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi bring a large group of Jinshi before this?"

"Even now, there are probably still many people who have not had time to be assigned actual positions."

"What I mean is, let them investigate corruption and, depending on the results of the investigation, let them take up positions that they are capable of filling, so as to clarify the administration of the Song Dynasty."

"Daddy, what do you think?"

Zhao Zhen: "..."

This is the purpose of your coming here!
All the previous ones are actually foreshadowing!

Zhao Zhen then said, "But if we do this, the impact will be huge. Can you really control the situation?"

Zhao Xin said, "So you have to do this, Daddy! If the ministers have any objections, Daddy, you can tell them that you don't want to be the emperor anymore, and you want to be the emperor emeritus, and then you can pass the position to me."

“Parents who love their children will plan for them in the long run. Many emperors in ancient times killed many people so that their sons could succeed to the throne smoothly.”

"And Daddy, you are just fighting corruption. Compared with others, it's actually not worth mentioning."

Zhao Zhen couldn't help but complain: "But people only do this when they are about to die."

(End of this chapter)