The prince is more stable

Chapter 846 Fierce Party Strife

As someone who slipped through the net of nine-year compulsory education, although I escaped the net in my previous life, I still managed to get a few bites of pig feed.

"Auspicious omens" are as elusive as a turtle in a wishing well; if you believe, you toss in a coin, if you don't, you just chuckle.

However, the difference is that, from the perspective of a country, this trend should not be allowed to continue.

All twenty-five memorials contained auspicious omens, thus proving that Zhao Xiaoqian's ascension to the throne was ordained by Heaven, and that the Song Dynasty would surely prosper.

Ordinary citizens would naturally be overjoyed, and it might even be able to sway a large number of ignorant people. Even those who don't believe it will just smile faintly and not expose it, treating it as a spectacle.

But Zhao Xiaoqian is the emperor, and he received nine years of compulsory education in his previous life. He can't just foolishly believe it himself.

Twenty-five places were found to have auspicious omens, which suddenly appeared like moss after a rain. They didn't look like auspicious omens at all, but more like demons.

“Auspicious omen, hmm, it does look like one, but there are far too many auspicious omens. Are you sure it really is an auspicious omen?” Zhao Xiaoqian said with a smile, but his eyes were fixed on Zeng Chen, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

Zeng Chen was now drenched in cold sweat and his face was pale.

He didn't expect that his attempt to flatter the emperor under the guise of "auspicious omens" was futile; the emperor simply didn't believe it.

What's worse are the twenty-five local officials. They've thought of all the same sycophancy he could think of. Almost simultaneously, they submitted reports claiming to have discovered auspicious omens, devaluing the omens and driving down their prices for their families.

Seeing that Zhao Xiaoqian had his eyes on him, Zeng Chen was terrified and hurriedly knelt down in the center of the hall, trembling as he said, "Your subject is guilty of oversight, Your subject knows his crime."

Zhao Xiaoqian glanced at him indifferently and said, "Fine, you meant well, I won't pursue this matter further."

As he spoke, Zhao Xiaoqian looked around at his ministers and said, "I ascended the throne to do practical things and to strive for a prosperous and peaceful reign. I hope that you gentlemen will do your jobs well, just like me. As for those vague and ethereal 'auspicious omens' and the like, you are not allowed to report them anymore."

"Compared to those so-called auspicious omens, I would prefer that you submit something more practical, such as the progress of your duties, specific data within your jurisdiction, and how you have benefited the people during your tenure. This is what I truly want to see."

The officials were awed and bowed in agreement.

With the auspicious event over, Zhao Xiaoqian found it difficult to punish the twenty-five local officials. In the end, they hadn't committed any major offenses; they were simply trying to curry favor, but they had misjudged the intensity and angle of their flattery.

Now that Zhao Xiaoqian has publicly issued an edict, anyone who reports the discovery of auspicious omens in the future will truly be punished.

Next, Chancellor Zhang Dun announced some news at the court assembly.

One hundred officials were selected from various government offices in Bianjing (Kaifeng) and sent to local areas to live and work with farmers in rural villages. They were tasked with understanding the hardships of the people and addressing the shortcomings of the new policies. The assignment was to stay in Bianjing for six months and then return to the capital to report on their work.

As for the locations where the demotion will be carried out, they will be temporarily set in counties and townships within the capital region as a pilot program for the imperial court. If it proves effective, it can be promoted throughout the Song Dynasty and legislation can be enacted accordingly.

The news shocked the entire court.

Many people's faces immediately turned ugly, and some lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound, for fear that Zhao Xiaoqian and Zhang Dun would choose them.

Nobody wanted to go. Most people became officials with the initial goal of getting ahead, gaining power, and enjoying a life of luxury. Who would want to give up a good life and go to the countryside to live the life of a poor farmer?

Zhao Xiaoqian's gaze swept over them, and he couldn't help but sneer.

They talk about serving the country and the people, and they chant Zhang Zai's "Four Lines of Hengqu" with great enthusiasm, but when it comes to actually making sacrifices, they all act the same way.

The hypocrisy of the civil service is evident.

"You are all so modest, it seems you are all men of high moral character. In that case, I will not make things difficult for you. After careful selection by the Council of State Affairs and the Ministry of Personnel, I will directly name the candidates. Whoever is chosen will receive this honor and be sent to a local post," Zhao Xiaoqian said with a hint of coldness in his voice.

"Those who weren't named shouldn't be disappointed. This is just the first batch. There will be a second and a third batch later. How can someone who doesn't understand the hardships of the people be qualified to seek happiness for the people and share the burdens of the ruler?"

"You all shout slogans so passionately and loudly on ordinary days. I hope you can keep your word. Otherwise, I'm afraid you'll be branded as 'moral scum' and lose all your reputation. It would break my heart!"

Most of the people in the hall became uncomfortable, and even the old men with a sense of shame blushed.

The court officials gained a new understanding of Zhao Xiaoqian.

This emperor is far more capable than the late Emperor Zhezong.

Emperor Zhezong had been patient and tolerant for many years, and his personality had become mild. After assuming personal rule, he rarely showed his sharp edge and usually discussed and handled matters with his court officials with a smile.

However, this newly enthroned emperor is sharp and ambitious, and he is not easy to deal with. It will be difficult for him to be negligent in his official duties in the future.

Especially at today's court assembly, the Emperor had calculated the hearts of the people from the very beginning. He preemptively occupied the moral high ground, and then looked down upon his ministers from there. Wasn't he supposed to be sharing the emperor's burdens and seeking happiness for the people?
Now the opportunity has come. We will go down to the countryside to experience the hardships of the people firsthand and report their suffering to the imperial court.

If you don't do it, you're a "moral scumbag," and every righteous slogan you shout in ordinary times is a slap in the face to yourself right now.

Zhao Xiaoqian added, "By the way, the Council of State Affairs should take the lead in this matter. All the prime ministers should take turns being sent to local areas. I will grant them the title of 'Inspector General.' When prime ministers are sent to local areas, they will have the power to deal with local officials, powerful families, and landlords who are breaking the law, and to uphold justice for the people."

"At the same time, I will also arrange for people to secretly visit the Censorate, the Imperial City Guard and other government offices. Officials who have been sent down to the local areas must abide by the rules. If any behavior of bullying the local people is found, they will be immediately brought to Bianjing for punishment."

"The new policy has been implemented for decades, and has been abolished and reinstated many times. Why has a good policy that is clearly beneficial to the country and the people been repeatedly abolished? Let's first look for the reasons within the new policy itself."

"This move is intended to allow officials in the imperial court to personally experience the implementation of the new policies at the local level, and to see clearly which provisions of the new policies seem to benefit the people but are actually harmful to them, and which provisions have been exploited by local officials to enrich themselves."

The expressions of the courtiers grew increasingly complicated.

This emperor's personality and style of doing things are indeed much stronger than the late emperor's. He is indeed a commander who has led troops, and he is decisive and ruthless, showing no mercy.

Inside the hall, not only were the New Party officials displaying complex expressions, but the Old Party officials were also experiencing similar mixed feelings.

There are many reasons why the new policies were not accepted by the old party.

The primary reason, of course, is the interests of the scholar-merchant group. This was originally a war between factions. The new policies touched the interests of the vested interests in too many ways, which is why two factions, the old and the new, emerged in the court, fighting to the death.

Zhao Xiaoqian's statement now makes his attitude very clear.

The main theme will remain unchanged: to continue implementing the new policies.

However, many specific provisions of the new policy will be improved and revised, and the basis for these improvements and revisions is that these officials who have been sent down to the local level will make appropriate modifications based on their personal experience of the hardships faced by ordinary people.

Throughout history, reformers have rarely avoided infringing upon the interests of those who have already benefited. The pie is only so big; if you take too much and leave nothing for others, that won't do.

But you can't just pick the cake out of someone else's mouth with your fingers; that would be very presumptuous.

Emperor Shenzong had so much support for Wang Anshi's reforms, but in the end, he still had to abolish them because Wang Anshi touched the interests of powerful landlords and nobles, forcing them to launch a fierce counterattack. The combined power of these people was so terrifying that even the emperor had to compromise.

Zhao Xiaoqian's approach is different. He is now hinting that he will improve and revise the new policies, which means that he may make some compromises with the powerful landlords in certain aspects.
At this moment, both the new and old factions in the hall were slightly moved. They kept trying to guess the emperor's intentions, especially the officials of the old faction, who vaguely felt that their side had a chance to turn the tide.

Su Zhe, the Vice Minister of the Chancellery, suddenly stepped out of the court and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I am willing to volunteer to go down to the countryside and experience the hardships of the people."

As soon as Su Zhe finished speaking, the old party officials stepped forward one after another, voluntarily expressing their willingness to be sent down to the countryside.

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed. Those who could stand in the court were all intelligent people.

These old-party members probably thought their opportunity had come. They were sent down to the countryside to find fault with the new policies. If the new policies were too problematic and caused chaos in the local areas, perhaps the government would change its mind and stop pushing them. Wouldn't that be the spring for the old-party members?

Zhao Xiaoqian was helpless. Even after he became emperor, some people still used the new policies as a weapon, turning them into a sword to stab at his political enemies.

Previously, Zhao Xiaoqian moved outside the power center of the court and did not participate in the struggle between the two parties at all. He only heard that the two sides were fighting fiercely, but did not know exactly how fierce it was.

Now he finally saw it.

It was indeed very intense. Neither side ever missed an opportunity to kill the other, and once they seized an opportunity, they went all out to kill him.

The New Party officials, who were originally unwilling to be demoted, panicked when they saw the Old Party officials stepping forward to volunteer. They immediately understood the Old Party's intentions.

So without any prompting from others, they immediately stepped forward and expressed their willingness to be sent down to the countryside.

A pile of dog poop that everyone avoids has instantly become a hot commodity that everyone is scrambling to get their hands on. The scene before us is more than just "ironic".

Zhao Xiaoqian quickly glanced at Zhang Dun and saw that Zhang Dun's face was ashen, he was standing there with his teeth clenched, and his arms were trembling slightly.

Zhao Xiaoqian forced a smile and said, "Seeing that you all have the heart to seek happiness for the people, I am very pleased. Mr. Zihou, what do you say?"

Zhang Dun stepped forward with a livid face and slowly said, "The censor on duty will record the names and official titles of those who volunteered today. When the Council of State selects officials to be transferred to lower levels, they will be given priority consideration."

After a long silence, Zhao Xiaoqian said in an icy tone, "That's enough, court adjourned!"

(End of this chapter)