Borrow the day to change the day

() "Your Majesty, in the one-stop plan, only the supervision and punishment of executive officials are considered, but the interests of these people are not considered." Zhong Jinwei expressed his thoughts.

When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he also thought a little bit.

"Your Majesty, the ancients paid attention to both kindness and power. The retreat of the Beijing camp has such a strong backlash that the Marquis of Baoding wanted to put his ministers to death. The lesson this time was not insignificant."

Emperor Chongzhen looked at Zhong Jinwei, but he didn't see the look of fear on his face, and knew that he was not afraid of trouble, but learned a lesson from it, and was telling what he had gained.

"Your Majesty, if we want to reform various systems and rejuvenate Ming Dynasty, it will inevitably damage the existing interest groups. Those salt merchants are just businessmen after all. If they want to resist, the best way is to go through Buy officials to implement. The most important thing we have to consider is officials, whether they are officials in the court or local officials. As long as these people can stand with us, we can carry out the innovation strategy.”

When Zhong Jinwei said this, he paused for a while, letting Emperor Chongzhen digest what he said just now.

Emperor Chongzhen thought while listening.Now seeing that Zhong Jinwei stopped here, looking at himself, he signaled Zhong Jinwei to continue: "Master Zhong is right, I am listening."

"Your Majesty, it's still an old saying that if you want to do a good job, you must first sharpen your tools. The reform of the imperial court and the implementation of anything can not be done without the officials. It is not enough to be righteous. You can only give them benefits and tie them up. Only when they are set on the chariot of reform will they work with their heart. Otherwise, just arguing with these officials will consume our countless energy. This kind of thing is not what we expect."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded, but said unwillingly: "The court gave them official positions and salaries, and let them do things for the court and the people. But they are selfish. Now not only do they not punish them, but also give them benefits for nothing. I feel suffocated."

Zhong Jinwei smiled, and said to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, good will be rewarded with good, and evil will be rewarded with evil. It's not that there will be no retribution, but the time is not up. When we slowly get Daming out of the current predicament, one by one Dealing with those corrupt officials will not ruin our great event of Zhongxing Daming."

Emperor Chongzhen thought about it for the same reason. The most important thing now is the implementation of the one-stop plan. All other things must give way to this plan, and we can save Daming from the current predicament.

"Master Zhong, what countermeasures do you have against these corrupt officials?" Emperor Chongzhen was still a little unwilling, and wanted to know what Zhong Jinwei thought about these people earlier.

"Your Majesty, the one-stop plan is only a temporary solution to Daming's current predicament. If there are no other measures, sooner or later these officials will toss him back to the current situation. Therefore, in the future, His Majesty's Jing power may have to be used more in this regard." Only when the court supports His Majesty's reforms can good medicine be poured into the mouth of this sick man, Daming."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded, and Zhong Jinwei repeatedly emphasized that sharpen his weapon first, and then people who are numb will be taken seriously, not to mention that Emperor Chongzhen was originally a smart person.

"I think the best way to deal with officials is to open up the wisdom of the people." Zhong Jinwei expressed his long-considered thoughts.

"Enlighten the wisdom of the people?" Emperor Chongzhen was a little confused when he heard this. How could he say that the best way to deal with officials is to open the wisdom of the people? Isn't it the strict criminal law, or what he said just now, giving them benefits and tying them to the chariot?

"Your Majesty, it is like this. I will explain it to you in detail." Zhong Jinwei knew that Emperor Chongzhen would ask, and the following content might not be understood by people of this era.

"Since ancient times, including the current situation in Ming Dynasty, it has always been good for one official to let another official supervise. If the official who came to supervise also has problems, should another official be sent to supervise the first two officials?"

Emperor Chongzhen shook his head, if the third official also had problems, wouldn't it be useless as well.

"So, this method of using officials to control officials is not particularly good. Your Majesty, do you still remember that I divide the people of the world into three types?"

"Master Zhong is referring to grassroots, scholar-bureaucrats and me?"

"Yes, Your Majesty remembers correctly. There are three kinds of people, three kinds of interests. The scholar-bureaucrats are just caught in the middle. Among these people, they are of good character, responsible for the emperor at the top, and doing things for the people at the bottom; I only seek personal gain for myself. The reason for this is that the people are ignorant and don’t know how to deal with the oppression of local officials, and because the emperor can’t do everything himself, he will also be deceived by them. I don’t know if your majesty thinks so?”

"Aren't there squires in the locality? Isn't it so easy for ordinary officials to oppress?" Emperor Chongzhen challenged Zhong Jinwei.

"Your Majesty, the local squires are better than ordinary people. When officials oppress them, they will also consider their backlash. But the local squires often collude with officials to oppress the grassroots. The grasslands are the largest group in Ming Dynasty. If they can’t survive, Daming will be in turmoil. Therefore, His Majesty must give them a way to survive, and this way of survival is not enough just relying on officials to control officials.”

"That is to open people's wisdom?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, only the grassroots people are enlightened and understand that when officials oppress them, they have a way to go and laws to follow, and when they are no longer easily exploited by officials, it is the time when the administration of officials turns clear." Zhong Jinwei used Said in a firm tone.

Emperor Chongzhen thought for a while, and tried to ask Zhong Jinwei: "Master Zhong, will your future generations enlighten the people?"

Zhong Jinwei nodded and said: "At the time of my descendants, many countries implemented free education, that is, citizens could study for free. There are free education for nine years, and there are also free education for 12 years."

Emperor Chongzhen felt unimaginable after hearing this, how much financial resources it would take!Not to mention that the current Ming Dynasty does not have such financial resources, even within the time frame imagined by Emperor Chongzhen, there is not so much money to allow all the people to study for free.

Emperor Chongzhen said helplessly to Zhong Jinwei: "Master Zhong, your suggestion is very good, but I don't have that much money to allow all my people to study!"

Zhong Jinwei agreed with his suggestion when he heard that Emperor Chongzhen was very open-minded.So, he hurriedly kept up with the rhythm and explained to Emperor Chongzhen, so that Emperor Chongzhen would not retreat: "Your Majesty, enlightening the people's wisdom can be done step by step. Moreover, it is not necessary for all the people to be able to recite poems and write poems. As long as the people of Ming Dynasty can read and write It is enough to understand the truth. In this way, the cost will be much less. If the people want to learn more knowledge, let them choose and then pay for learning.”

Emperor Chongzhen still had a bitter face, spread his hands and said: "Even so, I don't have the money. Master Zhong should know how empty the treasury is."

"Your Majesty, I didn't say that this matter is going to be done right now. It can be done step by step. For example, it is stipulated that children from a certain age must go to school for free, and they can study for half a day and go home to work for half a day. In this way, the country and The burden on people’s homes will not be too great. Moreover, to promote blackboards and chalks, the state only needs to provide a place and the treatment of a teacher.”

Zhong Jinwei tried his best to keep the cost as low as possible, encouraging Emperor Chongzhen to make the first step first.

Emperor Chongzhen imagined it according to what Zhong Jinwei said, and it seemed that he really didn't need too much money, so he was a little moved.Education for all, and everyone in Ming Dynasty will be scholars in the future, which is something that has never happened in ancient times.

"Your Majesty, there are many benefits for all the people to be able to read. In addition to what I just said, making local officials dare not oppress at will and reducing the burden on the people, there are many other benefits. I told Your Majesty, and Your Majesty listened. I will definitely feel that it is worthwhile to open up the wisdom of the people.”

"Oh, Master Zhong, there are many benefits to letting people study, tell me quickly." Emperor Chongzhen heard that the rewards would be very generous, so he hurriedly urged Zhong Jinwei to say.