The prince is more stable

Chapter 913: Difficult Problems
It must be said that Zheng Chaozong's flattery was very clever.

High-level flattery doesn't require fancy words; it only needs to be expressed in a simple way.

Zheng Chaozong's flattery was skillful because he not only flattered loudly, but also presented clear and persuasive arguments, rather than blindly praising others.

The courtiers in the hall glanced at him sideways, their expressions complex.

Originally, the Emperor promoted Zheng Chaozong to the New Administration Department. Everyone had read Zheng Chaozong's memorials and was amazed by his outspoken and straightforward personality. They all thought he was like Wei Zheng of the Tang Dynasty, an upright and incorruptible remonstrating official.

Who would have thought that this guy with thick eyebrows and big eyes could be so eloquent when it came to flattering the officials?

Zhao Xiaoqian was overjoyed; everyone loves to hear nice words, and he was no exception.

The main reason was that Zheng Chaozong's flattery was reasonable and well-founded, which suited his taste perfectly.

Now, this is called professionalism.

Flattery that's given haphazardly goes unnoticed, but flattery that's based on solid reasoning isn't flattery; it's an undeniable fact.

Zhao Xiaoqian felt that he was indeed a wise and powerful emperor, a king of unparalleled talent.

“Indeed, I saw the word ‘sincerity’ in Zheng Qing’s eyes. These two words are burning hot, and I have no doubt that what Zheng Qing said is the truth.” Zhao Xiaoqian said solemnly.

The courtiers sighed silently.

Okay, whatever makes you happy.

"Regarding the abolition of the 'Green Sprouts Law,' I believe that none of you here have any objections, right?" Zhao Xiaoqian said slowly.

Su Zhe remained silent for a while before saying in a low voice, "I believe that the Green Sprouts Law should be implemented cautiously. The main concern is the supervision of local officials. The court must put in a lot of effort, otherwise a good policy will turn into a bad one."

Zhao Xiaoqian hummed in agreement, then looked at Han Zhongyan.

Han Zhongyan received a look from Zhao Xiaoqian and immediately said, "The Supervisory Office will continue to increase its efforts and appoint a large number of officials to various prefectures and counties to supervise the implementation of the new policies by local officials. If any official in office commits any illegal acts, the Supervisory Office will promptly investigate and prosecute them."

After Han Zhongyan finished speaking, the hall fell silent again.

Many of the prime ministers present at the meeting, who were from the Council of State Affairs, naturally did not have a very good impression of the Censorate. They had vehemently opposed its establishment when it was first set up.

Now, despite strong opposition from the emperor, the Censorate was established. The die was cast, and the prime ministers had no choice but to acquiesce to its existence.

Zhao Xiaoqian was well aware of the resentment many people felt towards the Censorate, but he did not intend to pay attention to it.

"The structure of the Censorate should be further improved. The Department of Revenue can allocate funds, and the Censorate will establish local censorate offices in various circuits, prefectures, and states of the Song Dynasty. Censorate officials will be appointed cautiously, rotated every three years, and will be subject to a lifelong responsibility system."

Zhao Xiaoqian paused for a moment and said, "'Lifetime accountability' means that if supervisory officials commit illegal acts such as favoritism, perverting the course of justice, or covering up and framing others, the court will hold them accountable no matter how much time has passed."

“As long as the court finds out, even if decades have passed and the official has retired and returned to his hometown, the matter from back then cannot be let go. Even if the person has died of old age and entered his coffin, the responsibility will fall on his descendants. For example, his family property will be confiscated, and his descendants will be prohibited from participating in the imperial examinations, etc.”

After he finished speaking, all the ministers present showed strange expressions.

Han Zhongyan, Lü Huiqing, Li Qingchen, and others from the Censorate looked solemn, while the others showed some schadenfreude.

That's how it should be. The Censorate wields such great power, so it should indeed bear the corresponding pressure. Otherwise, you'll get all the good things, and all the officials in the country will have to watch your faces. No one in the world will be able to control you.

The matter of the Control Yuan was just mentioned casually, and things returned to normal.

After a period of debate, there was no longer any objection to the implementation of the "Young Sprouts Law".

Zhao Xiaoqian had another question about the Green Sprouts Act.

"Mr. Zihou, in the 'Green Sprouts Law' of the imperial court, the government provides loans to the people, and when the people repay the loans the following year, they have to pay an additional 20% interest. Is this clause reasonable?"

The 20% interest rate is not usury, but is explicitly stipulated in the Young Seedlings Law.

But Zhao Xiaoqian still felt something was amiss.

"The original intention of the Green Sprouts Act was to help disaster-stricken people get through their difficulties temporarily. Logically speaking, the people have just gotten through their difficulties, and they have to repay the government's principal in the second year. It is already a bit difficult, and now they have to add 20% interest. I estimate that the people may not be able to repay it."

Zhang Dun said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, when Mr. Jie Fu discussed with his colleagues who participated in the reform, he decided on this 20% profit after careful consideration."

“The local area is suffering from disasters, and the number of victims is far more than one million. The imperial court provides loans of grain and money through the Green Sprouts Act, which requires huge costs. If no interest is paid, the people will not have the pressure to repay their loans, which will instead encourage unhealthy practices among the people.”

"If the people are thinking of taking advantage of the government since they don't have to pay interest, then everyone will rush to borrow money, and the imperial treasury will not be able to support it. Therefore, I believe that this 20% interest rate must be collected."

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded.

Wang Anshi had a profound understanding of human nature. Don't talk about how the common people are simple and kind; that's just a political slogan used by rulers to win people's hearts.

Humans are capable of both good and evil, and of greed, anger, and wicked thoughts.

Everyone has both an angel and a devil within them, regardless of their social status. It's not that the poorer a person is, the kinder they are; from a human nature perspective, there's no such thing.

The reason why the Green Sprouts Act charged 20% interest was to prevent the evil in human nature. Of course, the imperial court also had to calculate the costs and benefits, just like the government levies taxes on the people every year.

"The discussion on the Green Sprouts Law has been largely settled, but further improvements are needed on loan interest rates and specific implementation. As for the second batch of officials to be sent down to the countryside, the Council of State Affairs will select officials for this purpose. I need to know the true situation in the countryside."

"The second batch of officials will be sent down to areas outside the capital region, such as Hebei Road, Jiangnan Road, Huainan Road, and Guangnan Road. Remember to warn these officials that I want to see their attitude, and that the Censorate will keep a close eye on them."

The ministers all bowed and agreed.

Zhao Xiaoqian breathed a sigh of relief. The biggest controversy between the government and the public regarding the amendments to the new policies actually lay in the "Green Sprouts Law".

This is also the biggest point of contention between the new and old parties.

This issue has been basically resolved today, making it much easier to discuss the other terms of the new policy.

Of course, the controversy surrounding the Green Sprouts Act is still just a superficial debate between the old and new parties.

The next issue to be discussed regarding the new policy is a more controversial clause that is more likely to cause confusion: the "Equal Tax Law for the Fields".

It was also one of the terms of Wang Anshi's reforms. Wang Anshi's reforms later failed, and the three emperors of the Song Dynasty abolished and reinstated the new policies several times. The root of the problem lay in the "Fangtian Equal Tax Law".

The name of this new policy doesn't seem problematic, but many people will find it tricky when they get to the details.

The so-called "equal taxation of the land" specifically involved surveying and measuring all the land in the country, uncovering the large amount of land that local landlords and merchants had concealed, and classifying the land quality into five grades, with different taxes payable to the imperial court for each grade.

Look at this content, isn't it terrifying?
No wonder so many officials, powerful figures, and landlords were desperate to obstruct and oppose Wang Anshi's reforms.

This clause deeply affected the interests of officials, powerful figures, and landlords.

In ancient agrarian societies, land was not only the lifeblood of farmers, but also the lifeblood of officials and landlords.

Farmers rely on the land to make a living, while officials and landlords rely on the land to make money.

When Wang Anshi implemented his reforms, he proposed to survey and measure all the land in the country. Wouldn't those officials and landlords who owned large amounts of land be ready to fight him to the death?
Is land so easy to measure? If the government doesn't measure it, the world will be at peace, and everyone will live and work in peace.

Once the government starts surveying, many hidden, collusive, and embezzling activities, as well as all sorts of shady people and dirty deeds, will come to light. Moreover, from then on, all the land under one's name will have to pay taxes to the government. Who can stand that?

This is far more serious than digging up someone's ancestral grave.

Therefore, since Wang Anshi's reforms, the three emperors of the Song Dynasty repeatedly abolished and reinstated the new policies, and the root of the problem lies in this one point.

The faction of the New Party and the Old Party in the imperial court for decades was also formed because of this.

The conflict between the interests of the new bureaucratic elites and those of the old bureaucratic elites is also a conflict between the various vast and complex networks of interests behind them.

To be honest, Zhao Xiaoqian also felt a headache when he thought about this clause.

But no matter how troublesome it is, the problem must be solved.

Now that he's in this position, he has to get things done. Otherwise, the people will continue to suffer, and officials and landlords will continue to eat and drink their fill. Moreover, if the problem isn't solved, it can't be left to the next generation.

If even a time traveler can't solve it, how can you expect your own sons and grandsons to solve it?

After leaving the new administration, Zhao Xiaoqian felt increasingly pressured.

There are many pressing matters to deal with, but once they are dealt with, they will inevitably stir up a storm. If we want to resolve them completely, we will have to kill people to establish our authority.

But an emperor can't just kill people; he can't really turn himself into a tyrant.

Back at Funing Palace, Di Ying and Niaoniao were having a great time playing with little Zhao Hao.

Seeing his son made Zhao Xiaoqian feel even more pressured.

Regardless of how many sons he had in the future, or who would become the next emperor of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Xiaoqian was determined to remove obstacles for his children and grandchildren so that they could enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Just thinking about it makes me feel unbalanced.

Why should you enjoy yourself while your own father works himself to the bone and offends so many people?

Zhao Xiaoqian picked up Zhao Hao with one hand and swung him around a few times as if he were hanging clothes out to dry.

“Sang Biao! The road ahead is long and arduous, but you and I, father and son, must work together! From today onwards, you will begin your studies and practice horse stance. I will also enroll you in a few extracurricular classes. Next year, you will go and take the imperial examination to become the top scholar for me. How about that? I haven’t made things difficult for you, have I?” Zhao Xiaoqian stared at Zhao Hao and said seriously.

Zhao Hao seemed not to understand what his father was saying at all. He just found it fun to be held and swung around by his father and laughed out loud.

Di Ying and Niaoniao, who were standing to the side, were stunned.

After exchanging glances, the two women simultaneously expressed their opinions.

Di Ying stammered, "My lord... are you serious?"

Niao Niao stamped her foot angrily: "My lord, you mustn't call him Sang Biao!"

Zhao Xiaoqian glanced at them indifferently: "Women, don't meddle in our men's business!"

Zhao Xiaoqian planted a big kiss on Zhao Hao's cheek and said seriously, "It's decided then. We'll get up early tomorrow and do horse stance while we study! Okay?"

Zhao Hao shouted loudly in his childish voice, "Okay!"

"How about you bring back the top scholar title for Dad next year?"

"it is good!"

She said weakly, "My lord, he is only a little over a year old and cannot read yet..."

"It's alright. Teach him a few words to recognize tomorrow. He might be a child prodigy. It's not impossible for him to become the top scholar next year."

(End of this chapter)