Not only will the government be cleaner, but public security will also be much better, which will be of great benefit to policy implementation, economic growth, and other aspects.
"Let's talk about the reform of the bureaucracy."
Zhao Zhen then changed the subject and asked, "What is the situation with this bureaucratic reform? Will it have the same consequences as the Qingli New Deal?"
"Won't."
Zhao Jun shook his head. "The Qingli New Deal affected the interests of most officials. The bureaucratic reform was just to clarify their powers, not to dismiss them. Did I mention the Yuanfeng Reform?"
"Yuanfeng Reform?"
Everyone looked at each other. It seemed that Zhao Jun had never mentioned this matter. He only mentioned the New Deal of Qingli, Wang Anshi's Reforms, and even the later Zhang Juzheng Reforms, but he didn't mention this.
"Perhaps this was overlooked when discussing Wang Anshi's reforms in the past. In fact, the Yuanfeng Reforms were a bureaucratic restructuring that took place at the same time as Wang Anshi's reforms."
Zhao Jun said.
Zhao Zhen was puzzled and asked, "Is this any different from Wang Anshi's reforms?"
“Of course there is a difference.”
Zhao Jun smiled and said, "Wang Anshi's reforms were the court's national policy. The Yuanfeng reforms were merely a reform of the official system. The two are not in conflict."
"Then tell me in detail."
Everyone became interested.
Zhao Jun explained, "First, let's discuss the background of the reform. Due to redundant officials, the Song Dynasty saw overlapping institutions, lacking both fixed staff and dedicated positions. Numerous idle institutions and officials existed in name only, performing no duties. Secondly, officials were in office but not fulfilling their responsibilities, leading to a disparity and confusion between official titles. Officials were often absent from their posts, buck-passing, and bickering were common. Official titles were not worthy of their names, and the hierarchy of ranks reached an astonishing thirty-seven levels. Sometimes, subordinate departments were managed by several higher-level departments, but none were truly capable of effective management, leading to the bizarre phenomenon of subordinates not knowing who their superiors were. Therefore, to increase administrative efficiency, eliminate redundant personnel and institutions, reduce fiscal expenditures, and clarify the responsibilities of various positions and institutions, Song Shenzong implemented the Yuanfeng Reform."
"sounds good."
Zhao Zhen asked with great interest, "Did he succeed?"
Zhao Jun thought for a moment and said, "Brother, do you know what the most difficult task for a Song Dynasty general is?"
"Forehead"
Zhao Zhen was completely bewildered. What did this even mean? Wasn't he asking about the Yuanfeng Reform? How did he become a Song Dynasty general again?
But he didn't understand what Zhao Jun meant, so he could only ask, "What is it?"
"The most difficult task for Song Dynasty generals was not to recover lost territory, but to recover it before the court sued for peace."
Zhao Jun said happily: "It was the same for officials in the Song Dynasty. Their most difficult task was not how to cooperate with the emperor to govern the country well, but how to govern the country well before the emperor intervened."
Zhao Zhen's expression turned pale, and he said, "So this is another joke of the Song Dynasty?"
"Yes."
Zhao Jun nodded affirmatively. "Song Shenzong ostensibly wanted to reform the official system, but in reality, his goal was to centralize power. The two main points of the Yuanfeng reforms essentially weakened the power of the prime minister and allowed the emperor to directly participate in government affairs. This had absolutely no effect on reforms at the lower levels. Isn't that nonsense?"
Everyone looked at each other and thought, wow, Zhao Jun is going to start scolding the Song Dynasty emperor again.
I seem to be alive again, feeling a little better, and I will speed up the coding and resume the two updates.
(End of this chapter)
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