From Zhao Huan's perspective, one hundred strings of cash in the Song Dynasty was equivalent to nearly one hundred thousand yuan in later times. That was indeed too little. For smashing up government offices, the fine was just this small amount.
Liu Yanzong stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, I believe that punishment is necessary, but it cannot be as simple as just a fine. If it is just a matter of fining someone for disrespecting the emperor’s majesty, then it will have no deterrent effect on those upper-class families. Among these Confucian scholars, there are many sons of upper-class families. One hundred strings of cash is as easy as filling a tooth for them.”
The ministers began to curse Liu Yanzong in their hearts again, thinking he was a scoundrel who was encouraging the emperor to do bad things.
"What does Liu Qing think?"
"I propose that each person be given one thousand strings of cash! They should then be exiled to the southwest and Lingnan regions, where the court will establish private schools. All Confucian scholars must teach for free, and the court will not provide any stipends beyond the most basic food and lodging!"
Hearing that he was to be exiled to the frontier again, He immediately stood up and said, "Your Majesty, this is absolutely not allowed. The southwest and Lingnan regions are both wild and remote areas. It will be difficult for Confucian scholars to adapt. If they stay there for a long time, their lives will surely be in danger."
Shi Ziming quickly stepped forward and said, "Minister He, you are mistaken. There are people of our Great Song Dynasty in Lingnan and the Southwest. Others can survive there, so why are these Confucian scholars in danger of losing their lives?"
"That's just sophistry! Confucian scholars study the classics from a young age and don't do manual labor. How can those poor people in remote areas compare?"
“Minister He, we commoners from remote areas are also citizens of our Great Song Dynasty, under the light of the Emperor and the sun and moon, born of the same parents. How can we be treated as ants that can be despised at any time by you, Minister He?”
"you!"
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