Once upon a time, the efficiency of the imperial court was always criticized, and the reason was that there were too many officials, which made it difficult for government orders to be implemented and they often had to go back and forth between various government offices.
However, since the party struggle has now turned into a struggle over the system, two very important new power centers have emerged at the same time, namely the Regulations Office of the Two Governments and the Public Security, Procuratorate and Courts. The leaders of the two factions are all workaholics, which has greatly improved the efficiency of the government.
The Legislative Council over there quickly convened a group of university scholars and even invited some prime ministers to discuss how to split up the "Song Dynasty Criminal Code". Because at present it is just a split and the laws and regulations therein will not be touched, there is no need for a decision by the Legislative Council. This is just an administrative decision.
Meanwhile, Wang Anshi was also making drastic reforms to the garrison barracks, the first of which of course was a census of the number of soldiers.
The result turned out to be an expected one.
The Imperial Palace.
"According to the twelve camps I have checked so far, almost 10% of the vacancies are for no gain. Those people have either died or secretly left the camp a long time ago."
Wang Anshi reported the matter truthfully.
Zhao Xu was furious when he heard this: "I never thought they would dare to do this in the capital. Sir, please punish them severely. I will definitely support you."
There were some people on the border who were drawing salaries without doing anything, and Zhao Xu would have let them do as long as they were not too excessive. However, he did not expect that more than 10% of the people in the capital were drawing salaries without doing anything.
...
...
Wang Anshi said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I don't intend to argue with you."
Zhao Xu looked at Wang Anshi in surprise, "Why?"
Wang Anshi said, "From the current situation, it seems that many commanders will be involved. They are already very dissatisfied with this reform. If we hold them responsible, I am afraid they will resist even more fiercely. I have the evidence in my hands, which can force them to cooperate with my reform."
Zhao Xu pondered for a while and sighed, "Okay, I'll follow your advice, sir." At this point, his expression changed, "But this also shows that this reform is very necessary."
"I obey your command."
Just after leaving the palace, he and his guards found Wang Anshi and said, "Master, there is a letter just received from Hezhong Prefecture."
Wang Anshi took the letter, opened it, and said, "Go to the procuratorate."
Procuratorate.
"What? That kid Zhang San is on holiday again?"
Wang Anshi looked at Wang Gong in surprise.
"Uh, yes."
Wang Gong nodded awkwardly.
Wang Anshi asked, "Is he the only one taking a vacation?"
"Yes."
"This brat."
Having come up empty-handed, Wang Anshi had no choice but to rush to Zhang's house.
At this time, Zhang Fei was lying under a big tree in the courtyard, with his pajamas open, revealing his white chest. He was wearing a pair of green eagle shorts and lying on a homemade rocking chair. There were two beautiful women with big bellies sitting next to him.
"Sanlang, why didn't the benefactor take a vacation? Aren't you all in the procuratorate?"
Gao Wenyin handed the peeled orange to Zhang Fei and asked curiously again.
Zhang Fei took the orange and was too lazy to break it with his hands. He bit off a small half and said vaguely, "I asked for leave on my own. Isn't it good for me to stay at home and accompany you more?"
Gao Wenyin nodded with a smile.
Xu Zhiqian rolled her eyes and said, "There are so many people protecting us at home. If we just open the door, we will be surrounded by people. Why do we need you to accompany us? You are in an important position now, so you should focus on your work."
Zhang Fei said: "Now that the lawsuit is over, there is really nothing to do!"
Xu Zhiqian said, "Who said there is nothing? The court is currently working on judicial reform and military camp reform, so how can there be nothing to do?"
Zhang Fei said: "What does that have to do with my procuratorate?"
Xu Zhiqian said: "But isn't this all caused by you?"
"That's why I should stay away from it." Zhang Fei said with a smile: "Which reform will not hurt the interests of others? This is all about offending people.
I was the one who started all this. If I do something again, everyone will point the finger at me. In less than two years, we will have to go to Qiongzhou to develop the rainforest."
Xu Zhiqian pouted and said indignantly, "Actually, you didn't start this. They were clearly using it to embarrass you. We can't just passively take the beating. We have to find a way to teach those people a lesson."
"You are quite right."
Zhang Fei smiled and shook his head, "But it's not the right time yet, maybe wait another two months."
Xu Zhiqian asked uncertainly: "Taxes?"
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "Strike the snake at its most vulnerable part. Forcing them to pay taxes is like pulling their skin out and making them feel pain."
At this time, Qingmei suddenly came over and said, "Son-in-law, Master Wang is here."
Zhang Fei slapped his forehead, "Is it so difficult to take a vacation?"
After saying that, he stood up and said, "Madams, I will go meet Scholar Wang first."
Gao Wenyin hurriedly asked, "Sanlang, you...you plan to go just like this?"
Zhang Fei looked down and found that he was wearing pajamas. He couldn't help but slap his forehead, "Oh my God, I have to change clothes."
But when he saw how hot it was, he simply took off his pajamas, picked up the robe on the chair, and put it on as he walked outside.
Gao Wenyin said again: "Sanlang, let me help you put it on."
"No need, Master Wang is also a man of temperament and won't care."
"???"
Gao Wenyin looked at Xu Zhiqian in confusion.
Xu Zhiqian just shook her head and said, "Birds of a feather."
Arriving at the hall, Wang Anshi took a look at the boy, who was wrapped in a robe, and asked, "What are you wearing?"
Zhang Fei said awkwardly: "Imitate Master Wang."
".?"
Wang Anshi's mouth twitched a few times, and he almost vomited blood. "I was too busy with official duties to take care of it."
"Me too." Zhang Fei said quickly.
Wang Anshi said, "What are you busy with? You are the only one in the procuratorate who takes a day off every now and then."
There is no way. My boss is my father-in-law. It is not easy to ask for leave. Zhang Fei muttered to himself, but said, "Mr. Wang is wrong. When I was in court, I forgot to eat and sleep and worked all night. After the lawsuit, I have nothing to do. I am not as good as those trainee prosecutors in handling daily affairs. It is better to take a vacation and recuperate."
Wang Anshi was angry at his lack of fighting spirit and said, "It's fine that you don't practice your calligraphy, but you are not familiar with official duties, so you throw them to others? I think you want to fight lawsuits for the rest of your life."
He was very optimistic about Zhang Fei's potential to become prime minister, but what happened to him!
"Uh, Mr. Wang, please take a seat. Please take a seat."
Zhang Fei quickly changed the subject.
"Can't you make some progress? Forget it, forget it. You are such a stubborn person. I don't even want to say anything to you."
Wang Anshi waved his hand and sat down, feeling sorry for the boy's lack of fighting spirit!
Zhang Fei rolled his eyes. You, Wang Anshi, said that I was stubborn. I...! He suppressed his anger and poured a cup of tea for Wang Anshi himself. "I wonder what advice Mr. Wang has for you today?"
Wang Anshi glanced at Zhang Fei's "homely" outfit, and his eyes were almost dripping with eye boogers. He took a deep breath and said, "I recently received news that there is a problem with the price of salt in the northwest."
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "I just received this news, but I have discussed this matter with Master Wang before."
Wang Anshi said: "But you didn't tell me at the time that it would be so dangerous. I heard that over there..."
He whispered again: "We have reached the end of our rope."
Zhang Fei said: "Who could have thought of the war in Xihe? I was forced to adjust my plan. But please rest assured, Master Wang, everything is under control."
Wang Anshi nodded and continued, "But those salt merchants are stubborn and will take advantage of this opportunity to stir up trouble. They caused trouble in the capital last time and are trying to cause trouble in the northwest this time. They completely ignore the Xihe war. What's the point of keeping such merchants?"
Zhang Fei asked, "What does Master Wang mean?"
Wang Anshi said, "I plan to take this opportunity to implement the Market Exchange Law in the northwest, specifically for the purpose of making prices more affordable. Do you think there is any chance?"
Zhang Fei was stunned for a moment, then said awkwardly, "Master Wang, the Jingdong East Road issue has not been resolved yet, Hebei has just started to take over, and the capital is busy with the reform of the garrison troops. Can you handle it?"
Wang Anshi said: "You are so busy that you can't handle it. But I think the timing is the most important. After the salt merchants have made trouble, the people will naturally hate them. The court can take this opportunity to implement the market exchange law."
Zhang Fei frowned and said, "Master Wang, it is understandable that these merchants pursue profits. Moreover, according to my plan, Xihe's logistics must rely on these salt merchants. If we rashly implement the market exchange law at this time and anger them, there may be problems with the logistics."
Wang Anshi was surprised and asked, "Do we still have to rely on those salt merchants for logistics?"
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "I am trying to get them to renew their salt debt for another three years, and at the same time sell them another 500,000 strings of salt debt."
Wang Anshi took a deep breath and said, "Is this possible?"
"It will definitely work."
Zhang Fei said: "Because businessmen pursue profits, they will make the most advantageous decision."
Ha Trung
After three years of stable development, Hezhong Prefecture once again faced violent turmoil. The reason was the Gu planted by Zhang Fei three years ago.
That is the salt debt.
The salt production of Jieyan is very stable, just enough to meet the needs of the people. It does not mean that there is a lot of surplus every year.
In this situation, issuing salt debts would be like spending money before it is earned, and it would be difficult to repay the debt. Moreover, Zhang Fei issued a salt debt of one million strings of cash at that time, not including the salt notes that could be directly exchanged for salt.
At that time, banknote merchants rushed to buy salt bonds frantically, because they all knew that as long as the salt was locked in the salt bonds, the salt merchants would not be able to get the salt, so they had to buy salt bonds from them and then use the salt bonds to exchange for salt.
Therefore, all kinds of evil spirits emerged this year, and even landlords who did not engage in salt business began to hoard salt frantically.
Waiting to reap this wave of wealth.
The government had no choice but to open its own warehouses and sell salt for the people's daily needs, but with purchase limits.
I saw a long queue in front of the official salt shop. Each person was holding a small jar in his hand, standing on tiptoe, looking forward with worry in his eyes.
But at the door of the store, a man shouted loudly.
"Come one by one! Don't worry, there will be salt. It's just that now is a special period. Each household can only buy one pound of salt for the time being. Bring your household registration and salt notes."
The people queuing were talking about this.
"It's really hard to buy salt nowadays. You need salt notes and household registration."
"Let's not complain. It's good to have one pound of salt. In many places, you can't even find one or two ounces of salt."
"Yes! I heard that the salt merchants on the border are still waiting at the salt pond, but the salt pond is unable to produce any salt."
"It's not that we can't send it out, but the government is trying its best to keep the salt debt. The salt from the salt pond cannot be sent out. Therefore, many salt merchants from other places can't get salt this year."
"Will the people in those places not be able to buy salt?"
"What can we do? If the government cannot redeem the salt debt, they will be sued in the imperial court."
In the restaurant across the street stood two middle-aged men in silk attire. They were the two major banknote merchants in Hezhong Prefecture, Duan Chaobei and Zheng Aoping.
"It's different with the police, procuratorate and courts!"
Duan Chaobei laughed and said, "In the past, the government would have refused to pay the debt, but this time, the government is risking its life to protect the salt debt. Now that Hezhong Prefecture has to sell salt like this, are there any salt left in other places?"
“It’s long gone.”
Zheng Aoping said: "My son just came back from Yanzhou. The salt merchants there are holding on to their salt tightly, waiting for this wave of salt price increases."
"Really?" Duan Chaobei asked, "Aren't many salt markets over there controlled by the Zhong and Zhe families?"
Zheng Aoping said, "There was a war some time ago, and they needed food. The salt they controlled was gradually exchanged for food, and they don't have much salt left."
Duan Chaobei smiled and said, "This is really God's help!"
Zheng Aoping said: "Now the government is determined to protect the salt debt. There should not be a single grain of salt to sell to those foreign salt merchants. The price of the salt debt has increased by 50%. When will we release it?"
"It's only 50%, why are you in such a hurry?"
Duan Chaobei snorted, "We have held this debt for three years. If it doesn't increase two or three times, how can we lend it out? The interest is not enough to fill our teeth. I met Attorney General Chen some time ago. At that time, I asked him a few questions. As long as the government can't give us salt, we can sue. Anyway, everything is done according to the contract."
The calmness of the banknote dealer was as tormenting as it was for Yuan Jiang and Cai Yanqing. At this moment, they really felt like they were going through a tribulation.
Cai Mansion.
"Brother Houzhi is back."
Cai Yanqing hurried out of the hall and greeted Yuan Jiang, who had just returned from an inspection tour. "How is the situation over there?"
Yuan Jiang whispered, "Let's talk upstairs."
"Yes. Brother Houzhi, please come in."
Cai Yanqing immediately invited Yuan Jiang into the study and closed the door tightly.
"well!"
Yuan Jiang sighed and said with emotion: "This war costs money like water!"
Cai Yanqing said: "There is nothing we can do about this, but the Xihe region is crucial to our strategy. We are lucky not to be caught in a bitter battle."
"That's true."
Yuan Jiang nodded and said, "Fortunately, we secretly transported the salt out before and exchanged it for a batch of grain. Otherwise, even if we put all the taxes in, I'm afraid it wouldn't be enough!"
Cai Yanqing asked again: "Is Xihe now stable?"
Yuan Jiang said: "It's not completely stable yet. Many Qiang people there are capricious. But it's much better than at the beginning of the year. I guess the garrison can't be reduced. The logistics needs next year will definitely not be reduced. Now it depends on whether the trade over there can be successful. It is said that if it succeeds, it can reduce a lot of our burden. But I just hope that you don't force us to increase taxes. It took so many people's efforts to stabilize the tax revenue in the northwest. Don't let it change again."
Cai Yanqing was filled with sorrow when he heard this.
Things change rapidly on the battlefield, and they have no say on whether things will change or not!
Yuan Jiang looked at Cai Yanqing again, "This time we were able to replenish the logistics in time without causing too much casualties. Zhongyuan, you have made an invaluable contribution."
Cai Yanqing waved his hand and said, "This is nothing. I have accumulated some foundation in the past few years. Otherwise, it would not be the case. Besides, we are still standing on a single-plank bridge."
The success of the Xihe frontier expansion came too suddenly. They were completely unprepared. Moreover, this was not the western and northern fronts that had been fighting with Western Xia, but the additional southern front. What was even more terrible was that the reform of the northwest region had just been completed, and the public security, procuratorial and judicial systems had been fully popularized. They could no longer unscrupulously conscript civilians to transport food as they did before.
This is also the first time in history that the government has relied entirely on its cash to support logistics.
The entire logistics was partly handled by the local imperial guards, while the other part was handled by people hired by the government.
This is why the people of Hezhong Prefecture can still stand on the street and chat. If it were in the past, the northwest would probably be in chaos.
It is true that fighting a war is a battle of logistics!
Thanks to Zhang Fei's accumulation of some foundation in those three years, and with the ability and experience of Cai Yanqing and Yuan Jiang, they were able to cope with it, but they still owed a lot of salt debts.
Yuan Jiang asked anxiously: "By the way! What's the situation here?"
Although they were the only two in the room, Cai Yanqing still said in a very low voice: "As expected, all the salt merchants have registered and asked to exchange salt at that time, but the salt we have now can only pay the interest. If they don't renew the salt debt at that time, we can only follow Qingzhou's example and restructure the debt. Now we are really penniless."
Yuan Jiang whispered: "This is really strange. At first, I guessed that Zhang San might be smuggling Xixia green salt. Only the cheap salt there can fill this hole.
Unexpectedly, he wrote to us later, asking us to secretly transport all the salt that we had stockpiled to pay off the salt debt, exchange it for grain from various places while the salt price was rising, and then transport it to the Xihe area, leaving only some salt to pay the interest.
I really don’t know what he will do next?”
Cai Yanqing said: "If the salt debt can really be postponed for another three years, and an additional 500,000 strings of cash are issued, then we will have a much easier time next year!"
Yuan Jiang nodded, "What's hateful is that the boy didn't reveal anything."
Cai Yanqing sighed: "Let's not think too much about it. Anyway, we are on this pirate ship and there is no way to get off."
Jingzhao Prefecture.
Procuratorate.
"I wonder what Attorney General Su wants me to do?"
Cai Jing asked.
Su Che asked, "Hasn't the Grand Court President written to you recently?"
Cai Jing shook his head and said, "No."
"really?"
"Why does the Attorney General ask this?"
"Salt debt."
Su Che said: "Do you know why so many landlords outside are rushing to buy salt, and are even willing to exchange it for low-priced grain?"
Cai Jing weighed the pros and cons for a moment before saying, "They hope to use this to deal with our public security, procuratorate and courts."
"That's right." Su Che nodded and said, "Those salt merchants hoard salt for profit, but those dignitaries don't. Once the salt debts cannot be redeemed, they will definitely sue local governments. Then our public security, procuratorate and courts will encounter great difficulties. Hezhong Prefecture is not like Qingzhou, which can restructure its debts calmly."
The later wave of salt that was secretly transported was bought by these big landlords. They did not do it for the profit from the salt, but to strike back at the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs.
Today they are under great pressure from the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs. Paying taxes is secondary. The key is that they cannot act tyrannically and their privileges are extremely compressed. If you ride a horse and step on the crops of the people, you will inevitably lose money, and a lot of it.
They really hate the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs.
Cai Jing said: "But Master only told me to manage the imperial court well. These matters are not our responsibility. Why don't the Chief Prosecutor ask Yuan Xueshi and others?"
Su Zhe frowned, "It's a waste of time for Mr. Cai to come here."
"No way! If there is nothing else, I will take my leave now."
"Slow down."
After Cai Jing left, Wang Shen said, "Attorney General, it seems that Cai Jing really doesn't know the truth."
Su Che frowned and said, "Whether he knows about this or not, I can't really tell, but this salt debt was created by Zhang San himself, so he must have a way to solve it."
Wang Shen said: "But Judge Zhang didn't know that Xihe would suddenly start a fight and take over such a large piece of land."
“That’s what worries me the most.”
Su Che sighed: "In fact, given our dynasty's current financial situation, we should not use foreign troops for at least the next twenty years. Otherwise, even if we work hard to reform, after this war, we will be back to the way things were before."
Although there was no sign of war in Jingzhao Prefecture and the people's strength was still recovering, he was also aware that the finances of Hezhong Prefecture had hit rock bottom. If the salt debt was not handled properly, there would be a complete collapse.
Xizhou.
This was the place that Wang Shao had just conquered during his frontier expansion, and it would also be an important trading center in the future.
Inside a big house, Ma Tianhao and the great monk Lu Bin were seen sitting inside drinking wine and eating delicious mutton.
"It's really ridiculous. Back then, we brothers wanted to make great achievements and serve the country, but we ended up with a bald head and a green face. Now we have lost that ambition, but we have come to the place of our dreams again."
Ma Tianhao put down his wine glass and felt emotional!
Lu Bin asked, "Do you still have that ambition in your heart?"
Ma Tianhao said, "I thought it was gone, but after Zhang San's lobbying, it seems that it has not completely disappeared. Brother Lu, do you still have it?"
Lu Bin thought for a moment and said, "Even if there is, it's not as sharp as when I was young."
Ma Tianhao smiled bitterly and said, "This is really God's will!"
"Master, Master Lu."
At this time, the old housekeeper suddenly came into the house and reported: "All the things have been distributed, and all the money has been collected."
Ma Tianhao asked: “So fast?”
The butler nodded and said, "The accounts have been counted. After deducting the costs, we have earned a total of 2.8 million strings of cash."
Snap!
The big elbow in Lu Bin's hand fell into the plate, "How much?"
"Two million eight hundred thousand strings of cash."
"Pure profit?"
"Yes."
Ma Tianhao opened his mouth and said, "How many mortgage loans do I have to lend out to make so much money?"
Lu Bin also blinked, and suddenly said with emotion: "I finally understand why Zhang San became rich so quickly."
Ma Tianhao asked: "Why?"
Lu Bin said: "Because the secrets of getting rich are all written in the Song Dynasty Criminal Code. He studied it so thoroughly, how could he not get rich?"
Ma Tianhao laughed, "Yes! A smuggling trip can make a profit of ten or twenty times, this is really terrifying."
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
